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AN EPIC POEM. 



GOD IN CREATION AND EVOLUTION, 



THE CHURCH OF EVERY AGE 



IN 



LIGHT AND SHADE. 



Non vox sed votum, non chordula musica sed cor, 
Non clamans sed amans, cantat in aure Dei. 

Gloss, in Cap. Cantantes. 




NEW YORK: 

J. S. BEEKMAN, PUBLISHER, 

201-213 East Twelfth Street, 

1883. 



3- 



Copyright, 1883, 

BY 

J. S. BEEKMAN. 



PREFACE 



AGNOSTICISM and the denial of God's agency in 
nature is a growing tendency of the times. The boast 
of scepticism is, That all things can be explained by 
natural laws. This arises mainly from the fact, that the 
earth, as a whole, is a system, an organism, and a de- 
velopment from one stage to a higher until Creation 
was finished. But in this development Spirit Power is 
ever manifest. The purpose for which the world and 
all it contains, and the heavens were made, was to re- 
veal the glory of this Infinite Intelligence. The finish- 
ing work is Redemption and. man glorified. This is ex- 
hibited on the Seventh day, not yet ended : hence no 
evening or morning for this day or period is mentioned 
in the Holy Scriptures. 

To discourse upon this grand system in its order and 
symmetry, and show the creating, superintending, all- 



iv Preface. 

pervading agency of Spirit, this Spirit God, is the ob- 
ject of this work. Hence the author has not stopped for 
detail in any part, but has carried the one idea briefly 
through each successive stage of development. Both 
holy and fallen angels belong to the theme, since they 
are a part of creation and sustain a prominent relation- 
ship to the earth and man. 

The work is an epic poem, without rhyme, as the 
most fitting channel to treat the great theme with brev- 
ity and force, and more especially to allow a liberty 
to imagination where truth is not absolutely known. 
Thus leading truths are given and the popular mind 
may receive them without the labor of hard logic. 

Author. 



CONTENTS. 



BOOK I. 
The Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 

PAGE 

Scepticism fruitless 2 

God in solitude , 3 

Inspiration , 7 

Creation of matter 11 

" angels 13 

Satan holy 15 

The angel Paradise 16 

The stars formed 21 

The solar planets and earth formed 25 

Rest in God because he is infinite 29 

BOOK II 

The Angels' Fall. 

The origin of sin 31 

Sin progressive 34 

Multitudes involved in Satan's fall 37 

How to detect the fallen. First, by scandal 38 

The same in earth 39 

Second, by advocating persecution 41 



vi Contents. 



PAGE 

The modern Church surpasses the worldly in this sin 42 

Third, by lust of power .... 44 

Effect of the same spirit in the Church 46 

Repulsion and affinity 46 

The battle in Heaven and the result 47 



BOOK III. 
The Creation of the Earth. 

Hell a literal place 51 

The earth a solid 53 

Satan instructs the fallen angels 56 

Sceptics have like views 57 

Evil spirits claim earth as theirs 58 

Their power curtailed by the Cross alone 60 

BOOK IV. 

The Creation of Plants. 

What is life ? 64 

First plants of earth 66 

The murky atmosphere 70 

The fiends in it, but on the alert from fear 70 

BOOK V. 

A Solar Day and Year Begun. 

The first day of sunshine 73 

The first year 76 

The starry heavens allure us to God 79 

The evil spirits resume their office 81 



Contents. vii 



PAGE 

Satan calls a Council 82 

His speech to render all things hurtful 84 

Pastors bad and good contrasted 87 



BOOK VI. 

Creation of Animals. 

Enjoyment added to life 94 

Fools deny God's agency 96 

The waters produce abundantly 103 

Coral animals produced 104 

Satan rendered animals malintent 107 

Satan gives death its sting no 

Devils produce imperfect taints, animosities, etc 113 

Reptiles produced 114 

Gigantic fowl appear 118 

Force solely originates from spirit 119 

Colossal mammoths appear 120 

A new race of fish and flowers appear 124 

Pleasure succeeds pain as light darkness 125 

BOOK VII. 

Creation of Man. 

First a babe 127 

Man's endowments 132 

Eden 135 

Eve created 141 

The bliss of Adam and Eve while holy 143 

Without Eden the powers of evil reigned as before 145 

Eden a dwelling-place too for the holy angels 146 



viii Contents. 



BOOK VIII. 
Man's Fall. 

PAGE 

The temptation 150 

Immaterial, what form of matter spirit uses ■ 152 

Eve's fall 153 

Its effect upon angels 155 

Adam's fall ■. 156 

The soul increases power in sinning 159 

Sentimentalism in the modern Church 161 

Justice and conscience 165 

Hell's jubilee over man fallen 167 

Christ's descent into hell 171 

Evil spirits active where good is being done 176 



BOOK IX. 
Man Redeemed. 

This period divided in six distinct eras 179 

The first era from Adam to the Flood 185 

Adam and Eve sentenced 186 

Redemption announced in Heaven 192 

The summary of the whole theme stated 194 

The conscience 195 

The human pair driven from Eden 196 

The modern Church secularized 200 

The sons of Seth marrying daughters of Cain closes the first era 203 

The second era begins with Noah saved 205 

Ministerial success, as estimated by men, does not determine worth 205 

Evil, even in the Church, should be rebuked 212 

Seminaries and colleges for good or evil 216 



Contents. ix 

PAGE 

The second era ends when the Church and world amalgamated 224 

The third era begins with Abraham and ends with Israel's Captivity in 

Egypt — the Church again absorbed by the world 225 

The Church, like Lot, may be ensnared by covetousness 228 

Pastors who cater to wealth 229 

Pastors' vacations 231 

The fourth era begins with Moses and ends with Saul made king 237 

God's personal omnipresence 241 

Soon death comes and then we will long for God 243 

God in person near the leading feature of this era 244 

Losing sight of this fact ministers preach a jargon 245 

Theological seminaries 247 

Ministers patronized by honorary titles 248 

A place is what the spirit in it is 249 

How to teach sacred truths 252 

The death of Moses, and Satan claiming his body 255 

The Church ought to look for sins within herself rather than and before 

looking without 258 

The persons of the Trinity 261 

Moses in person enters Heaven 264 

The fifth era, monarchy , 265 

Begins with David 266 

The clergy should introspect for sin, and not be so ready to assail others 

and the world 267 

From suffering to glory 270 

The effects of monarchy 270 

David anointed king '. 271 

Vacant churches selecting pastors 272 

David loved and hated, his grace and power over men 274 

David a type of Christ providing Heaven for us — Solomon's kingdom 

typifying the latter 277 

The church in its purity . , . , , 278 



x Contents. 

PAGE 

Man nearing blissful homes 280 

Solomon king and his personal excellences 281 

The glory of his kingdom 282 

Moloch worship permitted by Solomon 287 

Church persecutions, origin and antidote 288 

The world beautiful, man vile, but Heaven pure 291 

Ashtareth worship also permitted by Solomon 292 

The Church should rule by love 293 

The sixth era, Christ born 294 

The path to Heaven 296 

Millennium 293 

Why ungodly men are suffered to act wickedly, or are even permitted to 

prosper 298 

Our union with God 300 

The seventh era yet to come, revealed to John, of which our Sabbath is 

a type 3 QI 

John in Patmos was given a vision of this coming era 302 

The beauty of Saints .- 3°5 

Sin incidental to good 3°5 

The possibilities of our future development 307 

A glimpse of our future home 308 

The exchange of this life for future felicities the price of Calvary 311 



SPIRIT POWER. 



BOOK I. 

THE CREATION OF THE HEAVENS AND 
ANGELS. 

AWAKE, O Muse ! and sweep the sounding lyre 
With skill divine, and hymn the noblest theme 
Which can the mind of man or angel thrill, 
Both now and evermore : awake and sing 
In Heaven's harmony, of worlds evolved ; 
Of plants and flowers new born ; of angel life 
Began in bliss, with power to will and act ; 
Of man dethroned, by sin plunged deep in hell, — - 
But now redeemed by God, to glory raised 
High o'er the azure dome of heaven above ! 



2 Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 

Let Nature with ten thousand tongues awake 

And hail the auspicious hour to sing and praise 

Our Maker's grace in music of the spheres ; 

Let Heaven and Earth their choicest gifts employ 

And chant a melody, so rich and rare, 

That angels, coming near, will stay their flight 

And fold their pinions, glad to tarry long ! 

'Tis holy knowledge, golden fruit in rich 
Abundance gives, which keeps forevermore 
The wealth which neither thieves nor tyrants steal, 
Which e'en in gloomy death with us abides. 
Like empty, barren clouds in times of drought, 
And trees uprooted, fruitless evermore 
Is knowledge foolishly disclaiming God 
Supreme — the Spirit Power primordial. 
His presence personal pervading space 
To see in every thing, is thought advanced. 
For infancy, not less maturity 
Of science, knowledge and intelligence, 
Begin and end with Spirit Power Supreme. 
Science, falsely so called, is dangerous, 
Abortive and destructive otherwise. 



Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 

Oh, Thou Eternal and immediate 
In time, to Whom unnumbered ages gone 
Or ages yet to come are moments length, 
Instruct the finite mind to view Thy power 
And majesty in forming act the same 
Whether wrought through successive cycles past, 
Beyond compute, or formed in perfect state 
As soon as willed. Impressed with reverence 
We'll then begin the noble, glorious theme, 
A theme aglow with more than fancy's light, 
Which thought in measure sweet ne'er reached before, 
And feel the plenitude of infinite 
Power in this richly varied universe. 
To worship Thee the darkest night illumes 
With rays of light which blind the commoner sense ! 

The Mighty God, enthroned in solitude, 
The Blessed, uncreated Trinity, 
Fountain of good, the Godhead in repose, — 
Had yet displayed no attribute of Being, 
Save with the co-eternal Son and Spirit He 
Abode,— one Spirit like, and each to each 



4 Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 

Glorious, infinite, alone, — and each 

To work in His own proper sphere, revealing 

Perfections of the one and only God ; 

Nor yet had spoken either world or seraph 

Into Being throughout immensity ; 

His beauty, grace and loveliness beyond 

What creature mind has e'er conceived or known 

Were yet hid in the abyss of Deity, 

And all that matter and spirit life reveal 

Known only to Himself, God infinite ! 

In solitude — a dreadful Deity ! 

Our spirit faints beneath the awful thought, 

Too ponderous for human, finite strength ! 

His realm was infinity, with nought 

Else but pure spirit, personal, enthroned 

In light ineffable and glorious. 

For in the ether blue no star in light 

Of amber shone and twinkled 'mid the gloom ; 

No creature having life adored the throne, 

Nor ranged joyously through the heavenly realms ; 

Nor was there tree or flower, beast or bird 

Yet born to render nature beautiful, — 



Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 

But God alone, in thought inscrutable, 
Profound, possessed of possibilities 
Beyond what Heaven yet knows in solitude ! 
No marvel hence that graciously He pleased 
To break eternal silence and reveal 
Himself in worlds, and other spirit life ; 
To share with myriads bliss ineffable ; 
And hence to will and cast a universe 
And mould it into being, in which to act 
Himself, best illustrated, but far short 
Of all the vast and awful truth involved, 
By human soul within controlling body, — 
Within and yet above whate'er's controlled ! 

Oh God, too good Thou art to keep unshared 
Thy goodness and too great to live alone ! 
Beyond, in timeless past, when time and space 
Were not, Thy light, O, dreadful thought ! alone 
Did shine, — immensity alone Thy throne ! 
As Son and Holy Ghost, co-equal dwelt 
Ever with Thee in bliss ineffable, 
So in Thy bosom sweetly nurtured may 
We rest, and nestle folded in Thy arms 



6 Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 

Live always in Thy Person dread but dear, 

And thrilled with ecstacy and love, enjoy 

Thy gorgeous face in beauty and caress ! 

We tremble at the near approach we make 

To Thee — at our request so seeming bold ! 

Our sight will dazzle by Eternal rays 

Which in Thy Person shine, — and yet we come 

O God ! to Thee, — to perish in Thy arms 

Content if needful, ravished by Thy love ! 

But vain it is to tremble or to fear, 

For tenderness and love forever beam 

From Thy sweet face — more readily Thou seekest 

Us than we seek Thee, — only seemingly 

Thou art remote — nor wilt repel our love. 

Thou'rt hidden now in part to be revealed 

More fully upon the hills of Paradise, 

Where better we shall love and bear Thy light ! 

Oh Fountain inexhaustible, we drink 

In Ocean's bliss in seeing, loving Thee ! 

Come ! pilgrim through the vale of life with me, 
From life to death upon the shores of time — 



Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 7 

* 

From death to life upon the shores of bliss, 

Come, learn with me the mystery of Heaven — 

Within the soul, of happiness complete, 

Of spirit power divine in gorgeous light. 

We'll tarry in the shades of night at times 

The better to discern the pure and true : 

We'll traverse plains and heights ne'er reached before, 

Be dazzled too, at times, by rays divine, 

And views obtain appalling human sense : 

Into the depths we'll revel seeking God — 

But ever is He near and manifest, 

And in the end reach home — Elysian fields ! 

Prophets are given of God, and solely, "vision 
Of past or prophecy of things to come — 
Eyes spiritual, vision answering 
To bodily, from time and sense divorced, — 
Now Heavenly and divine, the Vision God's : 
As instinct exercised unerringly 
Is Wisdom God's, whereby the brutes surpass 
And shame and put to blush the powers of man. 
'Tis not of man or angel, creature born, 
To look into the dark profound of ages 



8 Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 

Since, ere he came to Being or the earth 

Or Heavens were lighted in the firmament ; 

Nor into future times, as yet unborn — 

Against our nature and beyond our powers. 

God moves with Hand Divine the mists away, 

Throws light upon a scene — and tells us look ! — 

Behold ! through Spirit Infinite we see — 

Through eyes Divine : and Vision God's a scene 

Impresses upon our souls, infallible 

Then and alone, thus helped by Spirit Power 

Above, outside ourselves and infinite ! 

'Tis Blessed Spirit here, companionating 

With finite in gracious intimacy — 

Heaven's Wisdom, Glory, Love or Power disclosed 

Long since or yet reserved, revealed to earth 

And man, or angels in empyrean heights ! 

To say we're helped, as helmsmen are to guide 

A bark unerringly o'er stormy seas, 

Are supervised to keep from error free — 

Called Inspiration, given of God to men 

Who wrote the Sacred Word, is short of truth, 

Or stated but in part by half at least ! — 



Creation of the Heavens and A ngels. 

The word is good and orthodox, retained — 

But as interpreted as well expunged : 

Called Supervision would disclose the view 

As taken and clear of all entanglements. 

But there's a vision given above our powers 

Of brilliant gems upon the ocean's bed 

And golden palaces with crystal halls, 

Of hidden rocks and shoals, blind rocks and shoals 

Beneath dark inky waves ; there is a Hand 

Removing shades, imposing light, and God 

Is eye who casts a vision upon the soul, 

The spirit born, finite and limited. 

Thus more than helped, or merely supervised, — 

God's Vision, infallible, an image casts 

Within our soul, and spirit sees the truth, 

To speak or write, unerringly, each word, 

As given original, by Power Divine. 

We're helped as human eyes are instruments 

Of spirit : thus is God pre-requisite, 

And not a mere adjunct or accident ! 

Thus only man the future or the past 

Discerns, as Moses, prophet of the Lord 



io Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 

Discerned Beginning of the Universe, 
Angels as yet unborn, and through all time 
Into the abyss and shades of night delved deep 
And saw the past and future's history. 

As human eyes perceive a flower and know 
The fact, requiring evidence no further, 
And laughs to scorn a sceptic asking proof 
And further demonstration of the fact, 
So God's Vision, imparting truth for thought, 
Pleasure and help throughout life's pilgrimage 
To spirits born, impressing scenes beyond 
What mortals otherwise could know, cries halt ! — 
To every doubt and sceptic scheme which steals 
A march within the lines of truth's strong citadels ! 
When souls discern through Vision God's, the past 
Or future mysteries, 'tis gross to cavil, — 
For further evidence none need to ask. 

To Heaven ! let earth's incense most sweet ascend 
For Inspiration given to sinful man ; 
For mysteries disclosed and treasuries 
Unsealed where richest gems with lustre glow ! 



Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 1 1 

O ! fellow pilgrim, mark the birth of dust 
Whence stars were made, and man and angel form, 
And marvelling adore the first display 
Of Power Divine — Almighty God revealed ! 
Born by the word omnific God declared 
There sprang a universe, a gaseous realm 
Of matter into Being, rarified 
Like air from centre to circumference. 
Whence issued suns in multitude like pearls 
And crystal sands which deck the ocean's floor, 
Whose heat and brightness far exceed our own, 
And all the worlds which plough the ether main. 
Whate'er material is, from gaseous state 
Arose, and into its original 
Returns when it its destiny fulfils. 
Combined harmoniously are clustered suns, 
The system one, where peace and happiness 
Have held their reign supremely sweet since first 
It rolled a formless airy mass in space : 
And wondrous suns which gyre around and round, 
As if in passionate pursuit, with joy 
Each eyeing the other's changing beauty's hue : 



12 Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 

And glimmering clouds of worlds o'er many a rood 
So far and wide a shooting beam of light 
E'en tires on wing ere it their limits gains. 

The worlds, suns, systems filling space evolved, 
Moulded by hand divine all beautiful, 
From elements, the dust original, — 
As rude and blackened coal when pierced by heaven's 
Lustre becomes a diamond bright and chaste ; 
Or like as crystalline formed from the crude 
And shapeless dust of earth. Here then we look 
As upon a forest growth in every stage 
Of germs developed from the tiny sprout 
Just peeping out the soil its tender head 
To the exalted tree that rears its trunk 
Against the sky and proudly spreads its boughs 
Of perfect beauty which reflect the light. 
The elements original of matter 
Are few — or possibly there's only one — 
But O ! how endless the variety 
Of body and of substance they assume, 
And marvellous their beauty to attract 
The eye, or ugliness repelling thought : 



Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 

As flesh of gases elementary 
Is formed the same and like in animal kind : — 
But mark the maiden, fair and sweet, compared 
With serpent flesh, repulsive, hard and cold ! 
So diamond beautiful and lustrous 
Is carbon, and an elementary- 
Gas, and likewise coal which is lustreless. 
So bodies there are, tenements of spirit, 
Celestial and terrestrial, whether seen 
Or not by us, alike composed of substance 
According to their kind and sphere and realm, 
Of matter simple and original, 
Born by omnific word, the Spirit Power 
Who was ere man or angel breathed, the light 
That solely shone throughout immensity ! 

O, pilgrim in the shades of solitude, 
Reclused from things of sense and time, Behold ! 
An order of Creation in advance 
Of matter far and incomparable 
Now appear, — finite spirit, — angel life, — 
Intelligences pure and holy, like 



14 Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 

To God, with thought and sentiment and heart 

And faculties and conscious will endowed ; 

And tenements superadded to spirit, 

Called bodies, like pure ether, richly formed 

Of elements from which the universe 

Is made, — an airy substance, not discerned 

By carnal sense, save otherwise they will 

To manifest themselves in earth or heaven. 

So animalculae, perceptible 

To none, are yet organic substances 

With functions requisite to life and pleasure. 

For bodies are adapted to the sphere 

In which each spirit acts, expands and thinks. 

Whether the tenements of soul are formed 

In solids, flesh and bone, or gaseous, like 

Thin air, but having beauty, shape and form 

Discerned by angel spirits and our souls 

When disembodied, is quite immaterial. 

Our bodies earthy take the form of earth ; 

But angel bodies heavenly in form, 

A light and gaseous substance like to Heaven. 

The great Apostle of the Gentiles hence 



Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 15 

Denominates the mass of men as fools, — 
Because, forsooth, they foolishly inquire 
Respecting resurrection — with what bodies 
Do they come ? seemingly a question great, 
Important — really immaterial. 
To culture soul, and to prepare for high 
And spiritual work should be- the end 
Of body, whether gaseous or in flesh. 
Then Satan, towering pre-eminent 
O'er all the myriads which there into Being 
Came, was archangel 'mong the mighty hosts, — 
With attributes and powers transcendent, — fresh 
In youth and beauty as the morning light, — 
With intellectual faculties ne'er since 
Surpassed, — with dignity befitting him, 
Having no peer around the throne of God ; 
Whose character was lovely and adorned 
With virtue, as a halo of pure light 
Illumes a person unalloyed with sin ; 
His body of so fine a mould it shone 
In air or ether or at heaven's throne 
Like to a transparent luminary, 



16 Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 

But yet organic, linking him to matter 

And spirit, substance having suitable 

To his employments, nature and desire 

To range the universe of God's domain. 

His honored name by which while pure and holy 

He was known, is forgotten since his fall ! 

For Satan and the countless angels great 
Or small, all holy in ecstatic bliss, 
A lofty habitation God prepared, 
Adapted to their nature, labors, tastes 
And all acquirements destined to engage 
Their powers superior eternally. 
From centre to circumference entire, 
The universe of matter was one Globe, 
An elemental mass unformed as yet 
In either suns or worlds, — a chaos crude 
And marvellously dark, — a wonderful 
Expanse whose limits e'en an angel swift 
As light for centuries could scarcely reach : 
Where now glow worlds upon worlds, suns and stars 
Illuminating heaven's vast expanse. 
The angels' Eden was the centre, whence 



Creation of the Heavens and Angels. ij 

Every way they could view alike the works 
Of God, no east or west or north or south, — 
Alike above, below, to right or left, 
So that where'er they looked a wonderful 
Display of Spirit Power was manifest. 
Here was prepared an angel Paradise. 

Like phosphorescent light upon a sea 
Which storms have broken into million caps 
Of foam and spray, now calm, the gale allayed ; 
So God's command illumed the angel world, 
And carefully the cradle of their birth, 
The home of their maturity adorned. 
Darkness now ceased to reign ! with light the first 
Created power, the fountain head of all 
The streams of life was ended first of days. 
From centre to circumference light shot 
Darting throughout the elements like tongues 
Of flame : the dazzled universe was thrilled ! 
Thus northern lights illume the firmament 
When winter has thick ribbed the earth with ice, 
And while the sun's benign rays are withheld. 
The angels now in wonder rapt, amazed 



1 8 Creation of the Heave?is and Angels. 

Beheld themselves, their forms, alike illumed, — 

The beauty of the heavens theirs concrete, — 

Their bodies shedding color, lustre, hue 

And shade such as adorned the heavenly realms. 

Whichever way they looked some new display 

Dazzled their senses and restrained their breath, 

Inured not yet to glory now revealed. 

This heaven, centre of the mighty Globe, 

Was like a molten sea of glittering gems : 

Where districts seemed of massive silver, bright 

But mellow brilliants, others yellow gold, 

With varied tints like clouds at setting sun. 

Heaven aflame with more than rainbow hues' 

Scattered her myriad diamonds, emeralds 

And every precious gem like autumn leaves, 

To light and beautify her mighty realm. 

For beauty, pleasure and utility 

Nature has possibilities unthought 

Or dreamed, — as dark seeds open into flowers, 

And tiny acorns into monarch oaks, 

And pearly shell removed an eagle mounts 

Above storm-clouds and soars imperial, 



Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 19 

And gorgeous butterflies from worms adorn 

The earth and air and range from flower to flower. 

The legions of pure angels soon became 
Enamored with their home. And every new 
Display of beauty, power, intelligence 
Enrapt their thought and formed a fitting theme 
For social converse sweet, which never soured 
Their appetite or tired their intercourse. 
Here spirit finite shared the joy and bliss 
Of Deity, and were employed in all 
That elevates and renders soul ecstatic, — 
Shedding the light of Spirit Infinite. 
How beautiful, how bright the angels were — 
How blessed to share the bliss of Deity ! 

The elements primordial, the Globe 
Of matter, ever in its gaseous state 
Might have remained except for Spirit Power. 
For solids by laws natural return 
Into their elements original, 

When they've fulfilled their office, once ordained. 
The archangels noting some great change near, 
Thereupon held converse apart and deemed 



20 Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 

It prudent to assemble every angel 

Within their heavenly precincts secure. 

The myriads were scattered everywhere : 

In fields of oxygen a multitude 

Discoursed upon its affinity in less 

Or great proportion with the gases, 

Which they from near or from distant fields brought ; 

Illuminating parts with phosphorous, 

With sulphur others into splendor such 

As mortal eye or sense could not endure : 

Some in districts of Hydrogen, or Carbon, 

Or other elements all pleasurably 

Employed. Some journeyed upon the points of light, 

The darting beams, to reach the bounds of space. 

Some gathered gems, both diamonds, emeralds, 

Rubies from fields where beauty glowed intense. 

Nature was lavish now of beauty only ! 

Far in the sphere of heaven's universe, 

The marvellous dome all around from where 

He stood, a trumpet voice in thunder tones 

Was heard, which echoed and re-echoed till 

Every angel stood mute and motionless. 



Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 2 

'Twas Satan calling them and anxiously 

To annul the intervening space between 

Them and him in their quick returning flight ! 

None questioned — all obeyed — no time was lost ! 

Their pinions cleaving elemental air 

Like arrows from a bow, an army dense, 

A tempest raised, such as excite the ocean 

When whirlwinds sweep through her utmost depths. 

Their speed was timely. Moanings deep and dire, 
And thunderings throughout the gaseous Globe 
Gave evidence of some new wonder near. 
Already heaven's centre separate 
Became, and other globes of million leagues 
Twice told diameter of liquid fire, 
And millions, — all like evenly balanced, — hung 
Ton nothing, — mutually co-acting, — self-poised ; — : 
And vast and deep the' mighty chasm between — 
An empty space and void which we call ether. 
For 'twas God's voice that thundered, Spirit Power, 
Who in the majesty of might appeared 
And said, Be there a firmament between 
The waters and let it divide the waters 



22 Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 

From the waters ! And God made the firmament, 
The ether's wide expanse, transparent blue, 
Dividing chaos elementary 
Above, beneath : the firmament called heaven. 

Pilgrim of earth and time from lofty heights 
We've retrospected ancient night, ere light 
Appeared, and have conceived that matter void, 
Inert was spread about the central power, 
When into systems formed, they all revolve. 
E'en though untrue in each particular, 
Conceit o'erdrawn, a vision limited 
And circumscribed, 'tis yet a pleasing thought 
And may be true, conceived as probable. 
From out infinity's waste Spirit Power 
Thence called them forth to life. Before there reigned 
A solitude akin to Egypt's night, 
A death we'd shun above what reigns in tombs ! 
No music of the spheres, now full of life, 
No ether wave to lash the worlds as water 
A vessel ploughing ocean's mighty main. 
Not thus forever could the universe 



Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 23 

Remain, for power filling immensity 

Was felt to energize with quickening life. 

As parent bird the glow of life imparts, 

So God's breath moved upon the water's surface 

From which the universe evolved, — the pulse 

Of life then throbbed throughout chaotic void, — 

Impelled by Spirit Power the atoms moved 

And systems formed about the central Power, 

Which light and beautify the firmament : 

Centaur, and Cygnus robed in lilac blue, 

And brilliant Sirius, and all that shine, 

In anthems sing the music of the spheres, 

The solar too whence earth and planets grew. 

The immensity of power and harmony, 
Number and beauty of celestial worlds 
As suns, astonish the wise of every age. 
The mighty suns, the clusters; double worlds • 
Of light, and nebulae as islands vast 
Are seen to float upon an ocean's depth, 
Whose limits thought can scarcely reach, whose height, 
Whose abyss is beyond — and deeper still 
Though we descend eternally their depths 



24 Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 

With finite powers excursive in their range. 

Here calmly undisturbed by storms they shine 

More beauteous than the flowers of joyous spring, 

Or tinted leaves of autumn's long decline. 

A lustre of their own they shed as gems 

Of earth, but varied more in brightened hues. 

Andromeda appears as robed in green 

Like earth, and Argus flashing yellow flames 

As topaz, for which misers barter Heaven ; 

And some of amethyst, a purple tinge 

As clouds of evening when the sun has set. 

Some shine a sapphire of cerulean hue, 

Others in ruby's red, some in the mild 

And chastened glow of diamonds polished bright. 

O, wonderful the omnipotence divine 
Which throughout space directs in harmony 
Vast myriads of creature worlds and keeps 
Their massive globes from dashing one against 
Another, whose confusion then would drive 
The ether waves with heinous booming shrieks 
Into the very gates of hell to arouse 
The reigning powers of death and set them free ! 



Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 25 

These myriad suns and archipelago 
Of suns controlling vassal spheres unseen, 
Planets and worlds of systems complicate 
Move in a circling orbit, as the earth 
About the sun, around one central power. 
O ! where does the eternal Majesty 
Reside round which our system, sun and worlds, 
Revolves with giddy speed, which is in bonds 
As are the solar worlds joined close to all 
The clusters vast of creature stars and systems 
In heaven's dome, which nightly shed their rays ? 
God sways His potent sceptre through this space 
Powdered with myriad systems densely strewn ! 

Pilgrim, we've ranged in quick excursive flight 
The universe, the heavens and angel homes, 
And limit now our vision and our thought 
To earth and solar planets, glad to see 
Them into Being come, all orderly, 
Governed by laws ordained eternally. 
As Solar from the universal Globe, 
One sole united mass, was rent and torn, 



26 Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 

So Neptune separate became and moved 
Within its orbit, and Uranus next 
Her train six satellites, then Saturn bright 
With moons and arch of heaven's pure lustre formed 
As if designed to welcome spirits blessed, 
And dreary Jupiter and glowing Mars. 
All these as watchful sentinels parade 
In ceaseless march beyond our little orb, . 
Which like them was delivered from the same 
Chaotic womb. Within our globe's embrace 
Fair Venus grew in chastened modesty, 
And now in twinkling beauty shines the queen 
Of all the starry hosts, — first heralding 
The early morn, and in the dusky eve 
Glances one charming look upon the earth 
And disappears. Thus the fair eastern nymph 
Unveils her face to our enchanted gaze, 
Then playful hides her charms and glides away. 
And last of all the sun's bright retinue, 
Almost hid by the splendor of her beams, 
Was Mercury formed into globe opaque. 
These all attend upon her Majesty, 



Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 27 

The attractive power that keeps in harmony 
Their orbs as subjects to her ruling sway. 
Thus as a mighty screen the firmament 
Divided the waters and formed heaven's vault. 
Thus closed the morning of the second day. 

The tuneful planets roll with music sweet, 
Singing, — Almighty God, eternal King, 
Thou'rt holy, holy, holy evermore ! — 
With thrilling voice they hymn creative praise — 
The choirs like cherubim with harps of gold 
To which the angels listen, and God, well pleased, 
Delights to hear — His works attuned to song ! 

Tired pilgrim ! we'll here retrospect the road 
We've travelled o'er, and rest our weary feet, — 
Having seen power omnipotent displayed, 
Which won from formless chaos, first of things, 
Our solar sphere, — and how displayed conceived : — 
The moon a formless waste once round the earth, 
With it the earth and planets round the sun, 
The solar with the other systems one 
Globe entire, undivided mass. When broken 



28 Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 

And separate into spheres, systems, suns, 

Then all revolved each one as now around 

A central power, joined by all the other suns 

And worlds unseen throughout the universe : — 

All wheels, within a wheel of- dreadful height, 

Whose vast circumference is far as space 

Is found and resting upon shores infinite, 

And full of eyes, — the Spirit Power, Supreme, 

And finite power, for spirit is the eye : — 

All which Ezekiel, seer divine, perceived, — 

A vision of the universe and earth 

And Heaven, and God enthroned Supreme o'er all ! 

Earth is an organism ; our solar sphere 
Likewise ; and so the universe with each 
And all systems, stars and suns and worlds ; 
Governed in whole by simple laws, — none greater 
Than are repulsion and affinity. 
So are great truths surprisingly most simple, 
While error is complex, confusing thought. ! 

'Tis foolish to ignore a pilot hand 
To guide the helm of worlds and suns and systems 
Through ether's wide expanse immeasurable ! 



Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 29 

With fear and reverence we may indulge. 

The happy thought, that all these glorious stars, 

Together with the suns now beauteous, 

Roll round the throne of heaven's Almighty King, — 

The place robed in light incomparable ! 

Thus far has Spirit Power in light alone 
Been seen, revealed in beauty and in might. 
Oh, Greatness infinite ! there's room for all 
That is in Thee — and yet the universe 
A very little thing exists, — compared, 
A mote that glitters in the light, a leaf 
That floats upon the ocean's bosom vast : 
Yet less than infinite, less great. and high, 
Thou'd crush our fragile powers, our feeble sense ! 
In Thee is home, a shelter for the soul, 
Because Thou'rt Infinite, and Great, and Good, 
Where poorest mortals struggling find their rest 
Amid the strifes of life — in Thee alone ! 
In Thee, no sense or fear of rivalry 
Will quench our ardor, love or reverence ! 
In thee, we share a part of infinite, 



30 Creation of the Heavens and Angels. 

A part of glory which pertains to Thee, 
Of beauty and of grandeur filling heaven, — 
Advance and glory in Thy might, which ne'er 
We'll reach or rival, but will always love ! 
Upon a boundless bosom we're sustained 
In Thee, and everywhere and place is home ! — 
From Thee, we ne'er can drift or hide ourselves. 
O ! Grandeur rendering us grand ; and Wealth 
That makes us rich ; and Goodness that makes good, 
Within Thy light communicate to us 
While resting in the bosom of Thy love ! — 
And cradled there we'll rest, nor dream of harm. 



BOOK II. 

THE ANGELS' FALL. 

As God the parents of our race instructed 
To dress and keep and render beautiful 
Paradise, so angel powers were employed 
To render heaven redolent with sweets, — 
With wealth the rarest universe could furnish,- 
With glory ravishing to every soul. 
'Twas spirit finite power in exercise. 
Peerless was Satan, intellect profound, 
Who shone among the countless legions fair 
As though he were Supreme — a very God. 
Clearly whatever was within the reach 
Of finite powers he saw with accuracy, 
As though all eyes or ears or intellect. 
An alchemist profound, constructing gold 



32 The Angels Fall. 

And every precious metal to adorn 

The place of his abode, and precious gems 

From elements whence worlds and suns are made,- 

An ocean's wealth within his easy reach. 

The universe was levied upon to yield 

Her choicest treasure heaven to beautify. 

Each angel praised the Prince, and multitudes 

Adoring prostrate at his feet revered 

Their chief — to worship and sin near allied ! 

Worship and sin is always near akin ! 

Satan now thought upon Himself — reflex 
Of sin, and gave not God all praise, — declined 
Not to receive a form of worship heaven 
Forbids to any save to God Supreme. 
The angel which to John in Patmos came 
Declined such honor from the aged seer, — 
Saying, See thou do it not — worship God ! 
Doubtless 'twas love and reverence in John, 
A sense of gratitude and love which moved 
His quick obeisance at the angel's feet, 
His head bowed low : but 'twas a form of sin 
About to be conceived in embryo, 



The Angels Fall. $3 

Deceptive and like to mislead the heart 

Both of the worshipper and worshipped, man 

And angel : hence quickly he was rebuked. 

'Twould have been sin conceived in worshipper 

And worshipped, in effect a prodigy 

Of ill full born, had not the angel checked 

The tendency seen in the prophet's heart: — 

In angel for receiving, in the seer 

For giving what to God alone belongs. 

Thus sin originates in misdirected 

Worship, where God is quenched in self or others. 

Hence solemnly God warns, — " Quench not the Spirit ! " 

The angel's name is not revealed, but doubtless 

'Twas Gabriel, who ever bore good news 

To men. He lovely in attire and mien, 

Holy and wise, would not fail to recall 

The like temptation Satan failed to endure 

In Heaven, by angels loved, revered and served ! 

Thus daily, men accounted righteous, sin, 

Reflecting upon themselves, — and homage due 

To God alone receiving gratefully 

And with delight ; — both looking for and lusting 

2* 



34 The Angels Fall. 

After man's praise, instead of being zealous 
For God. And clergymen at altars holy- 
Are first to sin in this particular, 
As Satan was, archangel once in heaven ! 
Sin is progressive, scarcely recognized 
As sin at first, like germs whence reptiles spring. 
Sin born in thought of self, with subtlety 
Waxed strong in Satan, and sad havoc made ! 
His own sublimity he now admired ; 
Was zealous for self-honor ; and conceit 
Quenched thought of God, and all dependency 
Upon a Higher Power, subordinate. 
Inflated now with pride, he fell — and great 
His fall ! Heaven seemed a chamber charged with death ! 
'Twas like a cloud obscuring Heaven's light, 
The first of such the universe had seen. 
Clouds intervene to hide the sun's bright rays, 
But still the sun beyond, above, is just 
As bright and beautiful and pure in light. 
So sin is moral shade, and densely dark 
At times, obscuring heaven's glorious rays, 
But uncorrupted thereby is God's light 



The Angels Fall. 35 

And blissful purity, immaculate. 

Now sin casts heavy clouds upon the world 

Of spirits — realms of bliss whose light's obscured ! 

Grandeur magnificent defouled and fallen ! 

'Twas new, and born of finite spirit power 

Acted upon and acting selfishly. 

So even if insects or birds or beasts 

Are purely selfish, they impair instinct, 

And compass their own death, not long delayed. 

Danger is always near if acts are done, 

Or thoughts conceived without there's God in them, 

For either man or angel, insect, beast, 

Or any creature having finite spirit. 

For instinct even is God's wisdom solely, 

To govern creature kind unerringly. 

Earth's greatest Teacher, Christ divine from Heaven, 

His followers forewarned, Beware of men : 

And when betrayed, for their defence to take 

No thought, — since God through and in them would 

speak. 
Hence acting independently of God, 
Ignoring spirit Power Supreme, unmoors 



36 The Angels' Fall. 

The soul from her sure anchorage, unbars 

The gates of evil passions, pride and lust, — 

And finite spirit- will most surely fall, 

Acting against herself and nature's God, 

And journey on the highway paved for hell,— 

Like worlds adrift without an end or aim 

Unmoored from genial power to guide their course, 

Or with'ring flowers deprived of Parent Sun — 

Save that these die and must dissolve, but soul 

Increases power by that upon which it feeds 

For either good or evil, pain or pleasure. 

Hence Babylon's profane and haughty king 

In pride of heart exulting said, To heaven 

I'll ascend, and my throne exalt above 

The stars of God, in heights above the clouds : 

For is not this great Babylon which I 

Have built ? The word had scarcely passed his lips 

Ere thunderbolts from heaven struck down the Prince, 

Son of the morning, and like Lucifer 

He fell, and lost his kingdom and his pride. 

So too a miserable King of Tyre, 

Spoken of in Ezekiel's prophecy, 



The Angels Fall. 37 

Brought shame, dishonor, ruin upon himself, 

And lost his pleasure in a paradise 

Of sweets, his beauty too like morning, mists. 

Scripture makes each a type of Satan fallen 

Through pride and self-conceit from heaven and glory. 

A multitude of angels vast and dense 
In Satan's snare were taken, and began 
Their fall in creature admiration, since 
Prolific in a progeny of devils 
Among the human kind. 'Twas not a sin 
To admire a creature, but unguarded led 
Thereto ; a rose which had a thorn concealed. 
In knowledge, power and splendor all excelled ; 
In happiness and honor unsurpassed ; 
In virtue, favor with God, dignity 
Unrivalled, — yet rebelling they sank deep 
Into the depths of shame and misery, — 
Incurred contempt of all the holy angels, 
And endless wrath of Heaven and God Supreme ! 
Against a most beneficent Creator 
And Sovereign they wickedly rebelled. 
Except obedience to natural 



J 



8 The Angels Fall. 



Laws, regulating purity of life, 

They unrestrained were, — no restraint was felt. 

'Twas hard for holy angels to detect 

At times the lapsed, for lineaments of light 

And purity long with the lost remained ; 

And God for wise ends, known best to Himself, 

Suffered a war long and continuous 

Between the evil angels and the good, 

Akin to what is re-enacted here. 

Archangel Michael led heaven's hierarchies, . 

And Satan marshalled heaven's malcontents, 

Each watchful to discriminate between 

Their friends or foes, the righteous and the wicked. 

Evil reports were rife in heaven now. 
The sinning angels anxiously gave willing 
Ear to their fellows who had hurtful tales 
To tell, and gave them wing, and circulated 
Bad news and gossip, stopping not to inquire 
The truth, — their tongues aflame with evil speech : 
Angels among the worst, to mischief given. 
Such patronize and pity and condole 
While secretly they say hard things, — and feign 



The Angels Fall. 39 

Sorrow for victims whom they victimize ! 

This fixed their place as scavengers in Satan's 

Armies ; cowards who follow in the wake ; 

Like graveyard Ghouls which feed upon putrid flesh, — 

Of Satan even judged of little worth ! 

Alas ! that men should act the same at times, 
As terriers on scent to catch a hare, 
Whose business 'tis to watch their Master's house. 
Corrupted, such do lack the charity 
That sweetens life, are cruel 'gainst their kind 
With no purpose to help themselves thereby, 
But simply sport in ills and strifes produced — 
Hardhearted, feasting upon the pains of others! 
There's one apology in their behalf 
Which charity bids speak with bated breath, — 
That Nature's been too sparing of her gifts 
Perhaps, and thus incompetent for good 
They range and hunt and hound and rend alone ! 
If each would probe his heart himself he'd find 
The worst of men — a Devil in disguise — 
Save for the grace of God, and arms Divine 



4-0 The Angels Fall. 

About him thrown in love — love marvellous ! 
The light which renders clear to self self-guilt 
And shame, obscures or hides the faults of others. 
Then other men seem great, ourselves but mean ; 
Others good, but ourselves too vile to live ; ■ 
Others noble, but ourselves base, ill born ; 
Others righteous, but ourselves a sepulture 
Whited without but full of dead men's bones. 
Heaven's light will blind the eyes to others' faults, 
Hell's darkness quicken sight to all but self! 
Dark are the souls which flit from flower to flower 
And cull but poison, where honey too abides ! — 
Which only scent the rank and fetid air, 
Where much of sweetness too predominates ! 
Man's image photographs itself as good 
Or vile, and paints from self the evils talked 
To prejudice or do a harm to others ! 
In others innocent, adulterers 
Will see self-guilt conceived or done ! 
Hence talk and scandal best betray a guilt 
At home, within the scavengers themselves. 
The ways of God obscure or bury faults, — 



The Angels Fall. 41 

Which men unearth to shame their kind — themselves ! 

Each soul should be an orb of light, attracting, 

Alluring other souls, imparting light 

Alone to each, like suns in ether pure — 

Be Heaven, bestowing beauty, grace and love 

Upon other spirits favored less, as worlds 

About the sun, each having excellence 

Which none but God, their Maker, fully knows ! 

How sweet to dwell within the light of souls 

Most pure and drink the nectar they distil ! 

Tis Heaven below and we in love with Heaven ! 

Apollyon advocated zealously 
To roast with fire all heretics, or such 
As differed from him in views entertained — 
An appetizer to a hungry maw ; 
A fierce spirit, who feigned a zeal for God, 
And advocated learnedly with power 
To expel from the army militant 
There, every angel not employed as he 
And Michael were, though such might ardently 
Desire to battle for the Lord's elect 



42 The Angels Fall. 

In mean and humble stations when their chiefs 
Will should be indicated, — humble angels, — 
Misfortune and sin lying at others' door their crime ! 
Thus Michael saw in him and others like 
In views, his foes in heaven's livery. 

Thus many in the earth and in the church 
Religion from e'en equity divorce, — 
Or yoked with sin in hell's triumphal car 
Adopt and advocate views, and crimes commit 
'Gainst e'en morality. Hence history, 
Alas ! records against the church deeds done 
By ministers in priestly robes adorned 
So horrible, cold, cruel, that the heart 
Of even wicked men disgusted turns 
With sickened pallor from the horrid sight. 
For purity when prostituted sinks 
Into vile depths proportioned by the heights 
Whence fallen, as virgins sweet become the worst 
Abjects, outcasts and blind to shame when lost, 
And readily will perpetrate a crime 
Without a blush which hardened men will shun ! 



The Angels Fall. 43 

Cruelly keen are shafts, and poisoned too, 

The clergy use when they begin attack 

Without divine authority, beneath 

Their office, 'gainst another of their order, — 

More dangerous become than wicked men, 

In using Heaven's artillery against 

The saints, a war in Heaven's sacred place ! 

Religion is not justly charged therewith, 

But lack of it, perversity of heart. 

'Tis Satan clothed in heaven's vestments pure 

And clean, and these the eye of sense discerns. 

Alas ! the deeds disrobe an ugly devil ! 

But superficial thinkers hence infer 

That Scripture faith and all religions are 

Inimical, unfriendly to the race, 

And scoff, blaspheme and rail against the church, 

Whose virgin purity by sin is soiled — 

The sin their kind entail and propagate, 

Appearing like dead flies in ointment pure, 

Where best its rankest scent may be discerned. 

Their sins in ministers, where purity 

Is claimed and hoped for by e'en worldly men, 



44 The Angels Fall. 

Are ranker than the flames of sulph'rous hell, 

And smell to the utmost verge of heaven's vault — 

There most confound and shame the profligate ! 

No wonder hence they howl against the church 

Combined, without discriminating good 

And bad, and all religion in the world, 

When ministers lapsed best condemn their crimes, 

And tortured leer and whine for very pain ! 

If all the race were like involved in ruin, 

One common hell, and none were true and pure, 

They'd shout and dance Satanic jubilees ! 

While war progressed in Heaven and sides were 
taken 
Azrael assumed pre-eminence above 
The rest, disputed with Michael the right 
Of leadership, and thought himself the best 
Fitted by far to conquer and subdue 
The enemy. His sacrilegious claims 
And bold effrontery resisted, sharp 
Practices subtly were then devised, 
And agents predisposed unto deceit 



The Angels Fall. 45 

Most actively obeyed their petty chief 

And raised the standard of a new revolt, 

A sub-rebellion 'mong the holy angels. 

One Israfil his master's trumpet blew 

Loud and strong, obedient to any work 

Imposed — a servile, dirty, cringing slave, 

Became a herald zealous to create 

Alarm and raise a tumult, planned in secret. 

Satan, pleased, took no part in such revolts : 

No need : such agents do effective work, 

Resembling closely their great prototype. 

Without delay or parley such were driven 

Among the enemy, eternally, 

(For Michael and his helpers were above 

The servile fear for discipline in Heaven,) 

Their character revealed — and self-deceived 

They seemed to wonder why heaven's wrath was 

kindled 
Against them so innocent and devout ! 
'Twas thus with Korah's company, who strove 
With Moses, lusting for the leadership, 
Whom quickly yawning earth's abyss devoured. 



46 The Angels Fall. 

'Tis thus with churches often in the world, 
Too commonly, alas ! in modern times, 
Whose condemnation cannot slumber long, 
Though mercy lingereth and God forbears 
To execute His wrath upon such sin 
Forewarned in Dathan and Abiram's fate, 
Who famous were in the great congregation. 
Any who lust for office in the church 
Endanger and defile the beautiful 
Zion, akin to Heaven, which God has loved 
And founded for the saving of our race, 
And prove a carnal heart and moral death — 
For even membership unfit — debarred 
By lust of power, — the origin of sin ! 
None save the meek, devout and lovable, 
Who shrink from having power, should office hold. 
Shocking for man to lord God's heritage, 
Which done will always blight and shame the church. 
Where Satan works let pastors guard with care ! 

Repulsion and affinity prevail 
Through nature's wide domain : so morally 



The Angels Fall. 47 

And socially one creature to another 

Is drawn or otherwise repelled without 

Knowing or caring for the reason why. 

A sinner is repelled by holiness, 

The righteous an affinity for each 

Other have, both here and eternally. 

Sin having entered heaven, unholy angels 

Felt a repulsion from the holy ones, 

And vice versa ; but each class were closer 

Drawn by an influence whose force they never 

Hitherto had experienced, binding them 

As one in unity and interest, — 

The first beneficent effect of sin 

Having entered Heaven's sacred precincts — 

A light which shines intensely 'mid the gloom, 

Rendering bliss more blissful e'en in Heaven ! 

A perfect sifting having been secured, 
Michael in solid phalanx marched against 
Satan, alike prepared, his marshalled hosts 
Of myriads drawn up, arrayed for battle, 
Who fiercely frowned, malignant, upon his foe. 
Heaven quaked from centre to circumference ! 



48 The Angels Fall. 

'Twas finite spirit power in close conflict, 

Which earth reveals in every phase of life, 

And seen in all society, among 

The rich and poor, the wise and ignorant 

Alike, in every place about the globe 

Wherever man sojourns, to bless or curse 

His home, conditioned upon the spirit nourished : 

Where evil is opposed to good, and good 

To evil ; sinners are arrayed, malign, 

In hell's panoply to subvert the good, 

And saints in heaven's vestments to subdue 

The bad and bring the reign of glory back 

Again, — in love for all the race and world — 

Divine their spirit, near akin to God. 

Their danger lies in using weapons forged 

By evil men, or Satan, or his angels. 

'Tis Satan's method to subdue the good 

To use the weapons from heaven's arsenal. 

This much, and valuable for sons of earth 

To know, was learned by Satan in the war 

With Michael and all Heaven's holy angels, 

Whose issue might have doubtful been : but God 



The Angels Fall. 49 

Appeared, and exercising infinite 
Power, Satan and his crew discomfited 
Became at once, were routed, put to flight, 
And fell headlong like lightning into hell's 
Abyss of liquid fire, — prepared long ere 
The issue had been reached by Spirit Power. 
Rebellion terminated now in Heaven 
Eternally, and s,weet peace reigned supreme. 

Earth speeds her journey to an issue like 
To what in Heaven has been, — nor long delays, — 
Compared to years eternal — nigh at hand ! 

Their fall and rout from heaven's empyrean 
Heights, lighted the universe like meteors, — 
So numerous and swift was their descent. 
A hand omnipotent controlled their flight 
And guided them, none knowing whither led, 
Or what their fate, — a secret, hidden hand, 
Revealed alone to them in power and wrath ! 
For God in shape and form, or bodily, 

Is seen by angels no more manifest 

3 



50 The Afigeti Fall. 

Than by man's finite powers, — in earth no less 

Certainly than in Heaven's crystal plains. 

Ere long they reached their place, nor long they fell 

Though their descent was almost infinite, — 

And lighted in our solar sphere, assigned 

To them their prison of captivity ! 



BOOK III. 
THE CREATION OF THE EARTH. 

We bid farewell to sister planets, suns 
And systems complicate through vast expanse 
Of space, and come to learn how grew the earth 
Into the perfect state which time reveals. 

From chaos void to morning light, and earth 
Severed from other worlds, the firmament 
Between, from gaseous state became a globe 
Of fire, whose liquid waves hissed direfully 
For thousands and ten thousand ages through 
The abyss of space, borne on its giddy speed 
As swift as since it's travelled, till cooled, brought 
To solid state prepared for something new. 

Here was confusion, — burnings most intense 
Befitting Satan and his angels lost 



52 The Creation of the Earth. 

Since their sad banishment from heaven and bliss, 

A literal hell-fire and brimstone, named 

In Scripture upon which so many cavil, nay ! 

Wrest, alas ! to their own dismay in future, 

Counting it language simply figurative. 

Let none delude themselves. There is a hell 

Literal in fact as an earth and Heaven : 

Also remorse of soul which hell may figure ! 

Bodies are circumscribed and must have place, 

And finite spirit bodies through which to act, 

Whether they're carnal or are spiritual. 

Otherwise pantheists have views correct, 

And spirits finite are but parts of God 

To be again absorbed by Deity, 

Like mists which to wide ocean depths return. 

Thus personality is lost, destroyed, 

And men like brutes will be annihilated, — 

And none will venture proof that thus 'twill be 

With e'en them, that they never reappear. 

Angels who lost their first estate, against 
A bountiful Creator sinned, rebelled 
Unprovoked, having no cause nor pretext. 



The Creation of the Earth. 53 

'Twas crime atrocious, meriting no less 

Judgment than banishment eternally 

From God, and all the punishments endured ! 

Having for ages suffered for their sins, 

And waking as from a dream, they beheld 

The molten earth congealed to globe opaque, 

And now engirdled by a shoreless sea 

Whose boiling waves were driven from pole to pole 

Like hissing serpents, horrid, venomous, 

Innumerable, ploughing through the waste : 

At times lifted high 'gainst the canopy 

Of heaven, followed by the angry fire 

Which warred beneath like hell's artillery. 

This was the eve when all the frightful powers 

Of dark commotion held the reins of death. 

The ocean's tides then murmured not in notes 

So soothing sweet as now unceasing heard, 

Nor glowed in varied colors as the glad 

Waves lift their crests on high, some glistening 

white, 
Others in purple, some in azure tinge, 
Or undulating green, the garb of spring ; 



54 The Creation of the Earth. 

For still the glorious rays of parent sun 

Shone not through dense mists girdling all the earth. 

The angels coming from the depths of fire, 
The abyss where long they'd lain in agony, 
Beheld the change. Amazed each mutely stood 
And eyed the other in blank astonishment. 
'Twas Heaven compared to what they'd suffered long. 
But consternation seized them, fearing some 
New display of omnipotence, and worse 
Fate possibly than yet endured. Hence each 
And simultaneously dove into hell's 
Abyss of liquid fire, to hide in earth's 
Centre from God, — whose face and power they feared 
More than the waves of liquid fire — their home, 
With which long since they had become familiar ! 
Thus we've seen turtles in spring- time beneath 
The water quickly dart and hide from fear. 

Still earth advanced — a brighter morning dawned — 
A glimm'ring star that twinkled now amid 
The suns and other worlds, a thing of life 
That hung upon nothing in creation's morn, 
Appeared the earth amid the other worlds, — 



The Creation of the Earth. 55 

'Floating through ether sea most beauteously, — 
Where splendors upon splendors beamed and shone 
Translucent, glories upon glories streamed 
From each, contributing a universe 
Of wonder, beauty, blessings, and of praise 
To Heaven's Great King, enthroned above the worlds ! 
The proud waves were conquered by laws ordained 
And gathered in one place, their bounds assigned. 
The dry land quivering rose from the abyss 
And held their universal tide at bay. 
The vanquished waves of liquid fire roared loud 
And hideously in death's agonies strong, 
And one effort more made to break their chains. 
Their gathering strength the earth and sea beheld, 
Trembling. Ere long they came with thunder's, roll 
And grew intensely fierce with moanings dire. 
The ocean heard, and fainting sunk away : 
The feeble earth threw wide apart its gates, 
And quick an o'erwhelming flood possessed its walls. 
Then rushing from beneath, their dread abode, 
They labored hard to win the heaven's heights 
To bring the reign of chaos back again ; 



56 The Creation of the Earth. 

From thence returned they rolled their molten waves 

Upon the land, which gave an icy chill 

That stayed their course. Hence wave upon wave was 

piled 
Congealed to solid stone which mountains formed, 
The granite chains to bind secure the earth's 
Framework. Thus valleys, hills and mountains rose. 

Now Satan's voice resounded through the bowels 
Of earth amid the roar of liquid fire. 
Aroused was every spirit and intent 
To hear, each welcoming a sound so long 
Silent, familiar once and sweet to all. 
Nor all its former sweetness yet was lost, 
But harshly corresponding to the place 
It roared compared to what in heaven erst 
It was : Up, friends, assert again your rights. 
Why longer here in abject bondage lie ! 
We thus abase ourselves below this hell 
Infernal, where too long we've lain submiss 
As though deserving worse, should heaven elect 
To inflict. The earth and all the solar sphere, 



The Creation of the Earth. 57 

The planets, sun and every satellite 

Are ours. No longer in this prison hell 

And writhe in torture we'll remain, as though 

Meek slaves content to bear all heaven wills ! 

We have the power which guarantees the right. 

Let each and all repair to solid earth, 

The surface habitable now and ours. 

'Tis ours to reign in kingdoms here o'er earth 

And every solar sphere, excepting none, 

Now perfecting by laws in matter solely : 

With which our enemy, who from the heights 

Of heaven expelled us long ago, has naught 

To do. We're masters here and this our heaven. 

With Satan infidels agree, denying 

That God controls development ; who claim 

That laws explain, account for all that is ; 

And wish to banish thought of God ; have license 

To act their pleasure, irresponsible — 

And die like brutes, become annihilate ! 

Yet Satan is more reverent than they 

And more devout, — in that he ne'er denies 
3* 



58 The Creation of the Earth. 

That God exists — though base he's not a fool. 

If laws account for nature, what accounts 

For laws — whence born — whose womb maternal gave 

Them birth ? Thus sceptics and false logic well 

Agree, are plausible to compass bad 

Design. But truth is better felt than known 

By men who follow Satan's wake : abject 

They make a show of wisdom which betrays 

Them fools : and like to evil spirits are, — 

Submiss to thus abuse their spirit power. 

When called by Satan, towering above 
All, high and eminent among the hosts, 
None hesitated : all at once arose 
Gladly, like convicts from their prison cells 
And chains released, intent upon Satan's lead. 
And roamed throughout the earth or visited 
The neighboring moon or planets, or the sun. 

Through all the ages subsequent the power 
Of Satan dominant has been in earth. 
Its wealth and honors he has claimed to give 



The Creation of the Earth. 59 

To votaries who worship at his shrine. 
Even our Lord, divine, who came from heaven 
With power infinite to save earth and man 
And elevate us to heaven's heights of glory, 
Was impiously tempted, Scriptures teach, 
By Satan, who the kingdoms of the earth, 
Their grandeur, glory, power and wealth displayed 
Before the Saviour's eye, a moment's time 
Simply required, to whom the Tempter said, — 
All these are thine, for mine they are to give, 
And more, if thou wilt simply worship me ! 
O ! sad the fact, too manifest, that still 
The earth belongs to Satan's votaries, 
Who mainly hold its wealth and proudly reign 
And riot, subject to their Mighty Chief ! 
Hence shade and darkness cover earth and sea 
And pall the heart of man with gloom intense ! 
The beasts complain, and day is turned to night ; 
Groans follow shrieks where strifes successful reigi* ; 
Man's scent for blood scares creatures fierce, untamed ; 
The winds but wail ; the waters voice but moans ; 
The mountains seem to cry and waterfalls 



60 The Creation of the Earth. 

To rage ; the clouds o'erspread the sky and mourn 
Like houses for the dead, — all in despair ! 
Thus spirit power, in league with death, appals 
The earth inanimate and man and beast ! 

But light illumes the clouds if we'll but see — 
And every cloud that casts a shadow o'er 
Our life or earth or sea or universe ! 
The spirit power that casts a gloom excites 
But moans, or crushes hearts and causes shrieks, — 
Is under Power Supreme, which dominates ! 
For us there's need of sorrow and of shade ; 
For us earth moans, and clouds of heaven weep, — 
Directing thought and heart to God and Heaven ! 
For us lambs bleed and creatures die, with looks 
Of patience in their face, reproachfully ! — 
Directing thought and heart to Christ, the Lamb 
Of Heaven, displaying attributes of love 
And mercy new to angels — upon the Cross ! 
For us are these alarms, and men unkind 
Give angry glare and looks of hate, and Satan 
Too, tempting with hell's blandishments and 
arts, — 



The Creation of the Earth. 61 

For then we fly into the arms of love, 
Where safety is assured by Power Supreme ! 
Thus in its light and shade is spirit power 
Discerned for good and ill — but good prevails, 
Subdues and uses ill for greater good ! 



BOOK IV. 
THE CREATION OF PLANTS. 

Now from the dreary past of fire and gloom 
We come to sing of spring's engendering growth 
Not beauteous as now, but as each new stage 
Developed more and more in higher life. 
An omnipresent power superintends 
The whole to accomplish the end first designed,- 
An energy we cannot understand, 
Hid deep within the veil of mystery. 

The Spirit absolute to us revealed 
In works and ways which now we humbly sing, 
Whom reverently we worship, is self 
Dependent, penetrating everything, 
Himself controlling all development 
Unto a destiny which he has willed : 



64 The Creation of Plants. 

• 

The Spirit independent, yet within 

All things as souls inhabit flesh and form, 

And still without, above and infinite. 

He now his power exerts and life appears. 

The peaks that look above the misty clouds, 

The barren hills below and ocean's depths 

Teem with organic life, now first produced. 

'Tis here in vegetation, trees and flowers 
That God in beauty best is seen, the only 
Spirit Power that abides therein ; where each 
Is perfect in itself; where Spirit less 
Than God abides not, nor destroys, nor mars ; 
Where God abides alone, the life and power 
To build, construct, mature and beautify. 
O, wonderful creation, body of 
The Deity, how beautiful, how bright ! 
Oh ! then what is Eternal Loveliness, 
The Spirit infinite which is the Life, 
The Fount of all, revealed in all that is — 
Himself alone without a fount, unborn ! 

Life's called a vital something undefined, 
Subjecting nature's pre-existing laws : 



The Creation of Plants. 65 

Which lifts the drooping flower to taste the breeze, 

And rears the cedar's giant form to brave 

The tempest's force : a subtle, mighty power 

Whose strange complexity none has resolved : 

A centre round which nature's laws and all 

The elements revolve to minister 

While it develops. Beautiful is life ! 

When gone, how changed the form in which it dwelt ! 

The giant oak with leaves and branches, trunk 

And all as perfect as when life was there, — 

But dead, — how changed and still ! The powers that 

erst 
Were subject now assume their right to prey 
And feed upon the ruins undisturbed. 
Oh ! what a world of wonder in each flower 
That lifts its shining head to see the sun. 
O ! who can comprehend the vital power 
That rests within the seed that germinates 
Beneath the earth ! A wisdom infinite 
Alone could guide the hidden mystery 
In matter inorganic, and continue 
Developing it, age rolling o'er age ! 



66 The Creation of Plants. 

O, pilgrim, fellow of the toils of search 
Through ages dark, and lone and patiently 
We've travelled ages long o'er dreary seas, 
If possible to reckon time ere life 
Appeared, and seen the elements at war 
To form the earth. As mariners we joy 
To see the mountain tops and landscapes grow 
Upon our gaze. But rest is distant far. 
Still patiently and long we'll beat the waves 
Of time to bring the distant shores in full 
And perfect beauty clearly to our sight. 

We now descend into the labyrinth 
Of earth, deep in the darksome cells of death, 
And leave the world above in glittering pomp, 
Pleasure and pride, pursuing its own course ; 
While we below in solitude, a place 
For thought, read the archives of nature past. 
Recorded here is earth historic as 
When first it wore its robes of emerald green. 

We note first thallogens as seen beneath 
The water ere the land had come to view, 
With no ranunculi which glow in red, 



The Creation of Plants. 67 

Or lilies white which deck our placid pools ; 
But stript of flowers and leaves they gloomily 
Appear. Behold far, far above this stage 
Of things and see the acrogens, with stems 
And leaves, a growth luxuriant, varied, rich. 
Some shallow banks with verdant mosses decked, 
And plants most like those of Pacific isles 
•Where through the earth's diurnal course the spring 
Glows warm, unvaried by cold northern blasts ; 
And some low pools with ferns whose broad leaves once 
Clothed green the Emerald isle, and now enrich 
The hills and plains warmed by the tropic sun. 
For then from northern chambers unexplored, 
Eveloped then and still in mystery, 
No winds cold like an avalanche of ice 
Carried dire destruction in their train. 
The earth, warmed by its own enveloping 
Light above and internal fires beneath, 
Felt a uniform glow through all its veins. 
Then too the gorgeous forests waved in strength 
Denser, mightier than the world since has seen. 
Then grew in perfect strength the calamites, 



68 The Creation of Plants. 

The equiseta, lepidodendra tall 

And beautiful, and arborescent trees 

As stately as the Norfolk Island pines 

And noble as the cedars, prince among 

The trees, which grow upon Mount Lebanon. 

Perfumes were not exhaled by flowers in spring, 

The rose unborn was yet beneath the earth : 

Nor had the polyanthos, nor the white 

Violet so modest in its speaking worth, 

Nor the anemone pale which loves the shade 

Of groves, or any sweet flower yet appeared. 

Nor were there birds to sing a lullaby 

Rejoicing in the ever-shining day, 

Nor beasts to roam the shady forests through. 

How sombre, yet imposing was the scene ! 

Now rising in the scale the conifers, 

Which darkened Scotland's moors and bare hillsides, 

Lift their giant trunks proudly to the skies ; 

And sigillaria spreading undisturbed 

By other growth their mighty reign, their stems 

With sculptures variously decked, fluted like 

The Doric columns carved by Grecian hand. 



The Creation of Plants. 69 

These monuments of ancient grandeur all 

Have passed away, their ruins only left. 

As empires rise obscurely into strength 

And flourish while the morning lasts, then sink 

Gradual into decay, their ruins left 

As legacies bequeathed to after-powers 

To build a structure more advanced in might 

And beauty, so the eve of day the third 

Grew slowly into morn and brilliant shone 

Until the light waned for the evening's shades. 

With such a gorgeous growth the ancient world 
For myriad ages shone among the stars, 
A mellow light. From north to south, from east 
To west, where'er the land appeared above 
The sea, the globe around, umbrageous trees 
Gigantic sprang and grew vigorously 
From tepid soil : the same that's buried now 
Beneath our feet, compressed to crystal coal, 
The mines of treasures inexhaustible 
For the use of man. O, could ingratitude 
Withhold our praise from the creative power 
Who thus provided for our wants ere man 



/O The Creation of Plants. 

Created trod this paradise of earth ? 
Oh, let all who would magnify the Lord 
Pursue with patient thought His mighty works ! 
Sceptic ! why close your eyes to sink your soul, 
So nobly formed for aspirations high, 
Beneath the instinct of animal kind ! 

In such a murky atmosphere, and light 
Continuous enveloping the earth 
By fires volcanic, in dense fogs and shade 
The fallen angels walked or councils held, 
And noted each progressive step from lower 
To higher life, and talked of future plans 
To make and hold the earth their Paradise. 
Whene'er a new display of power Supreme 
For further progress and advance in earth's 
Construction, independent of all law, 
Was felt or seen, then fearing and in awe 
Of heaven's power invisible, which once 
They'd felt, in abject terror each would flee 
Seeking dense darkness, impenetrable, 
In dens and caves, or through volcanic fires 



The Creation of Plants. ji 

And craters dive headlong into the bowels 

Of earth to hide themselves ! What next decreed 

Ignorant of; hence always on the alert 

To fly, — yet knowing not where to escape 

From power and presence personal around 

Them evermore to punish or refrain ! 

But Spirit Infinite withholding during 

Long intervals His intervening power 

Rendered the fiends bold, and reassured 

They'd appear and presume their right to reign. 

Thus creature powers, malign, their shadows cast 
Upon earth, which in both light and shade progressed. 
Power infinite to bless is always light, — - 
But power finite, intent upon ill, is dark 
And lowering, big with curSe, surcharged with death ! 



BOOK V. 

A SOLAR DAY AND YEAR BEGUN. 

Another day now dawns upon the world. 
The light that floated on the misty sea 
Around the earth against the ethereal vault, 
In silence gathered into waves and rolled 
Within the tabernacle of the sun. 
The murky vapor, screening every isle 
And continent, so richly robed, from sight, 
Felt northern blasts and gathered into clouds 
And rain. The curtain drawn, the parent sun 
Now first beheld to bless the blooming world. 
How rapturous must every pulse have throbbed 
When first it felt that gentle, bounteous hand ! 
The clouds arrayed themselves in azure tints ; 
The mountains seemed adorned with burnished gold ; 



74 A Solar Day and Year Begun. 

The hills and plains looked up serenely sweet, 
And smiled with more than lover's pride when first 
The idol of his soul with fluttering heart 
Bestows the long-delayed first kiss of love ; 
The breeze in music's wild, subduing notes 
Played wantonly among the glistening leaves ; 
The streams enchanted sang their lullaby ; 
The slumbering, lazy waves awaked to life 
And rolled with noiseless flow to kiss the beach ; 
The clouds, the mountains, and the hills and plains, 
The oceans slumbering in the land's embrace, 
And all the fulness of the earth rejoiced 
To feel the thrilling light and heat of day. 
Oh ! thou majestic sun, what beauty, power 
And life thy every glorious beam displays : 
How great, stupendous is thy potent reign ! 
The day declined ; the sun had travelled o'er 
The ecliptic path ; then gathering his robes 
Of state and beauty of vermilion tints, 
Retired within the chambers of the west. 

The first night shone in light of silvery glow : 
A light so calm that nature sinks within 



A Sola}' Day and Year Begun. 75 

Its folds and falls away in sweet repose, 

Unconscious as a babe that sleeps upon 

Its mother's breast. For while the mellow light 

Of eve was lingering with its soothing touch, 

Up rose the moon to rule as queen of night, 

And rolled with steadfast splendor through the heavens. 

Calm was her face unveiled, a beauty mild, 

Serene, that melts night into seeming day ; 

As innocence and virgin purity 

The heart intent upon a dark design. 

Then followed on, the silent starry train 

Attendant, waiting on her Majesty 

Whose lustrous splendor scarce excels their own. 

They decked the firmament of ether blue, 

The robe of heaven, as gems of every shade. 

Thus reigned successively the sun by day, 

The moon and stars by night, — a solar day, 

The first that dawned upon the earth, and still 

Revolves the same to bless the race of man. 

Then first began the seasons to assume 

Their round of changes, each in beauteous robes 

Distinct and varied through the rolling year. 



76 A Solar Day and Year Begun. 

Aries, the leader of the train, received 
The now reviving sun of spring, when cold 
And dreary winter, softened by the touch, 
Withdrew reluctant from the land and sea. 
Taurus, rejoicing in his seven stars 
And Hyades which brightly radiate 
His face,- next followed in the starry host, 
Accompanied by valiant Perseus, son 
Of Jupiter, and Eridanus, king 
Of rivers coursing serpentine through the heavens. 
The embryo buds felt the mild influence, 
And fearless of the biting frost unfolded 
Their hidden treasure to perfume the breeze. 
The tender grass began to spring and grow 
In wild luxuriance, carpeting the earth. 
All vegetation felt the new impulse 
Propelling hidden life's development. 
Following on the Ledean pair arose 
Heralded by Auriga, charioteer, 
And bright Orion, to receiveithe sun 
And lead him through the closing months of spring. 
The clouds charged heavily dropt down their showers 



A Solar Day and Year Begun. jy 

Of melting rain ; the rivers flooded full 
Discharged their wealth into the spacious seas ; 
The winds invigorating nature's growth 
Blew calm and mild, a warm and pleasant breath. 

From Gemini the sun munificent 
Rolls into Cancer, then as now betwixt 
The Lynx and Hydra's sparkling eyes, whose folds 
Are trailed along the sky full many a league. 
And now while driving through this measured 

space 
With equal speed, began to glow with more 
Than its accustomed fire, and pour its rays 
As liquid streams to deluge earth and sky. 
The drifting clouds now intervene and pour 
Their cooling rain upon the thirsting soil 
That else would lose its verdure and become 
A waste, a desert drear as Afric's sands. 
Leo next followed in the bright array, 
Courageous Judah's sign for victory. 
While in this province tarrying the sun 
Glows hot, and nature coils beneath its power, 
The blaze intenser than through the long year. 



y8 A Solar Day and Year Begun. 

Then Astrea gracefully escorts the king- 
Through her domains and ends the silver months. 

Summer closed, yellow autumn 'gins to smile, 
Combining all the varied beauty, strength 
And luxury advancing through the signs ; 
Evenly weighed when the Golden Scales are seen 
To hold the sun, whose journey 'mong the stars 
Then half accomplished sheds the light of day 
Of equal length with night upon the earth. 
Next baleful Scorpis, rising with the sun, 
And Sagittarius refulgent ends 
The season for the coming winter months. 

When Capricorn is reached and seen among 
The stars, clouds darken earth and storms begin 
And vegetation's beauty fades and dies. 
Aquarius rising next consigns the earth 
To barren winter's cold and rigid reign. 
Then Pisces closing up the starry train 
Brings milder rays upon the frozen earth, 
And soon it feels reviving spring again. 

Thus in successive order placed, the stars 
Became the signs for seasons equally 



A Solar Day and Year Begun. 79 

Balanced, and closed the fourth and lovely day, 
When in the firmament the sun became 
Earth's light by day, the moon and stars by night, 
Combined each year the same harmoniously. 

By bright dissevered worlds and suns which shine 
Nightly we're lured from earth to crystal plains 
And purple fields and amber hills and mounts 
Of gold, as if our home's beyond, above ! 
We yearn to soar outside of space, to climb 
The highest peaks on which a Paradise 
We dream and feel and hope may be enjoyed. 
Earth does not feed enough, nor satisfy, 
More than a nest a bird with wings full fledged. 

In God is home, and He's somewhere concealed, 
We feel, in sweeter vision than the earth 
Affords, within the starry realms which nightly 
Twinkle in myriad lights of diamond lustre, 
But noiselessly — in silence from the sky. 
But God is near, as well in earth as stars 
Beyond, and we're inclined for Him to look 
Above, and dream and pray to come where He 



80 A Solar Day and Year Begun. 

Abides, — when He's in Person at our side ! 

But many see Him not, and know not where 

To look : — in mountain caves where pilgrims pray ; 

In hovels of the poor where poverty's 

Unfelt in daily praise for bounties given ; 

In chambers where meek sufferers lie with Heaven's 

Halo upon their brow, in patient waiting 

The appointed hour of dissolution's touch — 

For golden chariots, whose wheels they hear 

Afar, and angel messengers to bear 

Them hence, — oh ! there in Person God abides, 

And there is seen, and felt, and touched, and loved, — 

Which every craving of the soul doth meet ! 

Through our tears we often see Him drawing near ! 
He rather seeks for us, a home within 
Our hearts — is more inclined thereto than we 
To seek a home, a heavenly rest, in Him ! 
We are in Him and He in us if helped 
And comforted upon our way to Zion ! 
Oh ! then our vision will be unobscured 
In starry ether blue, where worlds do shine 
Without a cloud, without the blight of sin ! 



A Solar Day and Year Begun. 

Ah ! hence our souls, when yearning for the stars, 
Are true to nature, and but speak the speech 
Of spirit dialect for purity ! 

The evil spirits had resumed their office, 
And busily had every spot explored 
Upon earth's surface, every continent 
And isle and sea, and every grove and forest. 
The beauty of the day and night, illumed 
With rays of heavenly light, admiringly 
They revelled in, forgetful of their lost 
Estate and liability to worse 
Punishment than yet they'd endured in hell 
If aggravated crimes should be enacted. 
Their nature now was sinfully inclined. 
As man's unless restrained by power divine. 
The dazzling splendor of the heaven's light, 
Or earth's beneficence, or their release 
From lakes of fire, excited no pure thought 
Or sense of gratitude. Their hearts, inured 
To woe, had hardened more and more, and cold 
Had grown as icebergs, heaven's sweet rays withheld. 



82 A Solar Day and Year Begun. 

The fact of earth's developing as seen 

By them from molten waves to solid earth ; 

From liquid fires into cool lakes and seas, 

And mountains, hills and plains, — more beauteous 

As time rolled on — a happy dwelling-place, 

Had more than fires infernal rendered hard 

And stubborn and defiant their wills fallen. 

As centuries rolled over centuries 

And time interminable seemed, their state 

And place becoming better and not worse, 

Their nature more defiant grew against 

Authority, as when dethroned from Heaven. 

So man, the more abject his poverty, 

If raised to independence, wealth or fame, 

Is arrogant, intolerant, self-poised, 

Except restrained by God mercifully. 

Satan, who gloried now in being called 
Beelzebub, deemed this a fitting time 
To hold a council and inaugurate 
A new rebellion, and devise what plans 
Were best to overcome whate'er is good 
Or pure or holy in the earth or heaven. 



A Solar Day and Year Begun. 83 

Great was the convocation now convened, 

Which seemed a forest newly sprung to life 

Upon a continent interminable. 

And still from regions far in companies 

They came, like clouds obscuring heaven's light. 

Their voices multitudinous were like 

The ocean, storm-tossed, rolling on the beach. 

Satan at last arose and carefully 

The heights empyrean intently scanned, 

And seeing no more on the wing, enjoined 

Silence. The roll called, — none failed to respond. 

Satan, well pleased, in grandeur rose and stood 

Before the multitude as formerly 

In heaven, a mighty prince adored by all. 

A shout spontaneous was given which crashed 

Upon the heavens as though colliding worlds 

Had brought the reign of chaos back again ! 

Each visage dark was now intent to hear 

The counsel and command of their great chief. 

As once Elijah upon Mount Carmel stood 
Before all Israel, king and councillors, 
So Satan now, the mighty chief of fallen 



84 A Solar Day and Year Begun. 

Angels, and thus addressed the multitude : — 

Friends, each a prince in this realm, patiently 

Hear mysteries which Spirit Power reveals, 

And hearing act for safety and defence, 

For sovereignty, renown and victory. 

Nature with capabilities for good 

Or evil is endowed : — two powers contend 

For mastery, — the evil with the good, 

The impure with the pure, and hell with heaven. 

Hence light and darkness, calm and tempest, fire 

And smoke, and Heaven and Hell. As spirits fallen 

We are esteemed by Michael and his hosts, 

The antipodes. Against his kingdom war 

Eternally we must declare and wage. 

Creation's work is going on, and earth 

Developing, as each may easily 

Perceive, and doubtless will continue long, — 

Earth will become a paradise of sweets, 

Growing more perfect finally reach Heaven. 

Then we'll be driven to another hell, 

Doubtless worse than the one we've here escaped. 

Our work hence is clear, to promote the evil 



A Solar Day and Year Begun. 85 

And overthrow the good, and make the earth 

Instead of Heaven a hell. Whatever comes 

From the Creator's hand is always good. 

We're fools and blind if we cannot perceive— 

Our work must be to render morally 

And physically hurtful everything ; — 

To make our kingdom stronger than the angels', 

More potent than the heavenly ; — to spread 

Barrenness, droughts and storms ; — to multiply 

Whate'er is noxious in both plants and beasts — 

And germs already are developing, 

If I divine aright, the germs just formed, 

Such as the universe has never seen, — 

An animal creation above the plants. 

Exert your spirit power,— become as Gods 

And each a God and reign, subduing good ! 

These germs possess ; — their bodies shape and form 

Into the most repulsive creatures e'er 

Conceived ; — their spirit power excite to hate, 

And render greedy to devour, corrupt, 

Malignant, and inaugurate in earth 

Among the animal tribes bloody wars. 



86 A Solar Day and Year Begun. 

We'll feast our souls continual thus in strifes, 

And Heaven's spirits will desert the place. 

All finite spirit, rule and render foul, — 

Possess, corrupt and render powerful 

Their bodies to destroy their enemies, 

And even malintent against their kind ! 

Excite in all a spirit to destroy ! 

With putrefying carcasses fill earth 

And sea ! Thus every form of good subdue, 

And enter eagerly upon the task, — 

A happy one to vanquish every foe ! 

Our interest demands, our pleasure prompts 

To keep the earth from reaching perfect bliss 

And make it more and more the antipode ! 

Ne'er was war declaration given which so 
Amazed and silenced every beating heart. 
'Twas admiration and consent so free 
And full that happiness in every bosom 
Reigned — a kind natural to fallen angels — 
So new since long their banishment from Heaven 
And in accord with their impulse for evil, 
That every one stood as though fettered strong 



A Solar Day aiid Year Begun. 87 

In gloom, where darkness reigns and holds supreme 

Control throughout their universal realm ! 

Their sentiments at last expressed themselves. 

Shout followed shout continuous, so long 

And loud it seemed a carnival of blood. 

All hell's discordant moan and wail were sweet, 

Confusion order and gloom light compared ! 

Most modern preaching and beliefs, too much 
We fear, the devil's agency in earth 
And man ignore, forgetful of what Christ 
Our Saviour taught and did with them while here ! — 
Forgetfulness that pleases Satan well, 
And mightily his kingdom helps 'mong men ! 
Many apologists has Satan here ! 
Some, e'en the watchmen who on Zion's walls 
Claim faithfully that they fulfil their office, 
To blow the trump and warn against surprise, 
Fail to discern Satan's foul agency 
In gross and heinous crimes by men committed, 
Deeming that human nature fallen, to sin 
Inclined, for all sufficiently accounts. 



88 A Solar Day and Year Begun. 

Thus men arc fooled and devils helped to reign ! 
0, watchmen ! dangers are abroad and death ! 
Be vigilant and faithful, true and bold ! 
Soft words and speeches may deceive, betray, — 
And cost a soul its death — yourselves the guilt ! 

Dark earth has rays divine from Heaven's throne. 
Her vale of tears responds to soothing touch 
When pastors, heaven-commissioned saints, stand forth 
Betwixt the living and the dead, to speak 
For God and purity and bliss divine. 
Solemn and sacred is the trust, and rich 
Will be their crown if faithful to the end. 
They stand where cherub angels fain would serve 
To plead in sympathy with common guilt 
And show the way from sorrow, sin and death, 
To joy and holiness and bliss and Heaven. 
Their virtues hath a tongue which checks earth's pride, 
Their dignity a power subduing men, 
Their independence of the world a voice 
Proclaiming them the legates of high Heaven. 
To God and not to men subordinate, 
And ne'er obsequious for worldly ends ; 



A Solar Day and Year Begun. 89 

Willing to bear reproach, privation, pain 
Or death to help and bless and save mankind ; 
The messengers of mercy to the lost ; 
Solicitous to plead with angel power, 
And feel and weep like babes where sorrow reigns, 
They're guardian angels clothed with power sublime 
To execute, ne'er legislate, the laws 
Which Heaven legislates for guilty earth, — 
' Intent alone that their commission holy 
And their credentials clear shall be from God. 
In right inflexible. When cares invade 
Or wrongs assail, with strength divine they're spurned. 
To be enthralled too lofty is the soul, 
And absolute God's word to be annulled. 
Hence pastors plead that life and liberty, 
That glorious release from human chains 
May be awarded rightly to the slave 
Which guilty man has bound and caused to bleed ! 
Profoundly penetrated by the truth, 
Born in the bosom of the Infinite, 
A pastor stands before the world a guide 
With trembling finger pointing to the skies, 



90 A Solar Day and Year Begun. 

Aglow with zeal, intensely moved to save, — 

A zeal proportioned by the years to come 

And possibilities of spirit here 

And evermore in realms beyond the grave ! 

In love with Christ, constrained and purified 

Thereby, like Him they love the sons of men. 

The darkest spot where sin and sorrow cry, 

Where human nature bleeds in agony, 

A faithful pastor's presence renders bright, — 

Upon whom e'en dying eyes will turn and smile, 

Responsive to a loving hand, and words 

Of sympathy which drop from tender lips ! . 

A pastor's heart throbs lovingly for men 

In all the ills of life, and yearns to help, 

As Jesus wept and dried the tears of grief 

In other eyes at mourning Bethany ! 

Sorrowing souls, struggling for release from bonds 
And tendencies, desires impelling them 
To sin, to which their natures bend as trees 
Before a gale, or from the Tempter's power, 
O ! Spirit, Paraclete, our Living God, 
Help such to overcome their deadly foes, 



A Solar Day and Year Begun. 91 

That earth may be a thing of beauty, place 
Surpassing sweet, while they sojourn below ! 
O, Fountain ! source of unction — holy love, 
Give strength for weakness, fortitude for fear, 
And wisdom for their creature ignorance ! 
May they in spirit soar where angels dwell 
And revel in Elysian fields of light, 
By help of Thee vouchsafed, above "these ills, 
Beyond the Tempter's wiles, where Thou dost reign 
Alone, in regions far removed from night — 
Where distant far are seen the realms of shade, 
Like clouds that hang upon the brow of space ! 
Thus rule, Almighty One ! reveal Thy power 
In light, as fallen spirits do in shade ! 
Surely our struggling race is helped of Thee 
When light from darkness dawns within the soul ! 



BOOK VI. 

CREATION OF ANIMALS. 

In lands of mystery thus far we've travelled, 
And realms of wonder new and strange disclosed 
From dark chaotic void to light and heat 
Which flood the earth with blessings marvellous, 
And near our native shores with gladdened heart. 
We'll travel, pilgrim, still o'er stony paths ; 
Through desert sands, both barren, hot and drear ; 
And mountain glens, where dangers seem to warn 
At every step, where much will pain the heart 
And sicken sight, from which we'll turn away 
In horror or disgust, and seek a place 
To hide or rest our weary, troubled souls : 
But here and there we'll meet, as in the past, — 
Upon a turn and unexpectedly, — 



94 Creation of Animals. 

A bright oasis ; or a grateful shade ; 

Or some clear sparkling fount, with music sweet ; 

Or limpid streams, refreshing weary limbs 

And cooling heated brows, and cleansing too ; 

Or meads where sportive flocks in safety graze ! 

From darkness, light will break ; from ills when all 

Seems lost, will good appear ; so shade and light, 

And good and ill will alternate in time 

To come as in the past, — for thus is life,— 

For thus is earth, — for thus is pilgrimage 

Below — to dawn in one eternal day, 

Where all is bright and fair, a fountain full 

Ot light, reflecting shades of myriad hues— 

To end in Heaven, without a cloud, where pains 

And trials, weariness and deaths are o'er ! 

As mists before the rising sun withdraw 
We see the wonders of mysterious power 
Enlarged — enjoyment added now to life. 
Sensation marks the new created world. 
From regions where the glistening Polar ice 
As mountains rise into the central zone. 



Creation of Animals. 95 

To where the equator's ring volcanic runs 

The round of earth, the oceans from their deep 

And silent tomb up to their restless waves, 

The land from level undulating plains 

To where are regions of eternal snow, 

An animal life joyous moves through the whole. 

The forests dense possessed by creatures huge, 

Voracious beasts ; the waters luminous 

With their unnumbered hosts ; the burdened air 

Scarce holds the clouds of life ; the myriad flocks 

Of fowl of every shape and size eclipse 

The light of heaven and darken land and sea, 

Depending upon the Spirit Power, whose hand 

Bountiful gives the blessings which each needs. 

We here behold benevolence displayed 
Through every channel of created life, 
A goodness seen to grow through every stage, — 
Advancing like the unassuming rill 
Into vast streams, impetuous, uncontrolled : 
Goodness embracing power omnific, first 
Displayed, omniscient wisdom next revealed ! 
The o'erwhelming tide of bliss which swells within 



g6 Creation of Animals. 

The mighty worlds and quivers through the veins 

Of breathing life, creative good reveal 

And Spirit Power, which all the wise discern. 

Grovelling and sluggish are the pigmy souls 
Which in a drowsy, dreamy state delude 
Their better sense and turn their eyes away 
From light, refuse to see the agency 
Divine pervading nature's laws, the mode 
In which the Spirit Power constructs the earth 
For man to inhabit ! Man, impertinent, 
Excuses Heaven's Majesty, whose mind 
Pervades immensity, from all concern 
Of things below, — eliminates the God 
Of nature from all nature's laws, ordained 
Of Him ! Absurd, — for infinite, no more 
Is He in Heaven above than in the earth 
Beneath. The infant at the mother's breast 
Shames while we pity these perverted souls ! 
Revolting and sad is the state of those 
Who glory in their shame ; who light a torch 
That men may clearly see their nakedness ! 
Such independent glory in themselves 



Creation of Animals. 97 

And thus too sink below the grade of fools. 

If God did not control the forming world 

And energize the whole, how first appeared 

The breathing animal in perfect type, 

Each species beautifully formed, developed, 

When first it saw the light or breathed the air ? 

Reason, aside from Scripture, ne'er concedes 

To subtle laws of plants inhering power 

To generate the beasts which roam the fields 

Or fish inhabiting the sea's domain. 

Yet fancies are conceived no less grotesque 

Than they're absurd, irreverent, which teach 

Us so, — and further trench upon a weak 

Credulity by laboring hard to prove — 

Their theory and selves consistent here — 

That monkeys are progenitors of men 

By law aside from Spirit. Power Supreme. 

The law, intelligent, they never name. 

If sceptics, in form men, have origin 

With such a vulgar type of animals, 

Ever most deftly do they conceal their tails ; 

Yet such appendage needs become their kind": — 



98 Creation of Animals. 

Nor thus were they by their ancestors taught — 

Scarcely consistent with the theory, 

To ignore their parentage by such concealment ! 

O ! shame to mortal men responsible 

Who thus degrade their powers and fail to see 

Design and unity in every thing. 

Away with fancies so absurd and base 

Which thus construe the laws of God, enforced 

That we may exercise intelligence. 

Can insignificant devils entomb 

The Mighty God, Creator of the heavens 

And earth ? or banish Him from earth's domain, — 

Whose terrible word called it into space 

And sent it forth to plough the azure deep ? 

If He, the Ever-Present, superintends 

The work, this great theatre's wondrous life 

Rises with steady tread, magnificent, 

Into a perfect whole, — all harmony. 

For breathing life distinguished is this fifth, 
A new day, thus distinct from all the rest. 
We recognize the generative word 
Which spoke life into being multiform, 



Creation of Animals. 99 

And rendered each a perfect organism, 
Each one a world of wisdom by itself, 
Each kind distinct from germs originated 
Solely by Spirit Power, the God of heaven. 

And now to read the world's past history 
Again we tread the universe of death, 
Descend again into the sepulchre 
And there investigate a life extinct. 
In strata buried for long ages past 
Are written living truths which God, Supreme 
Architect, there records ; each page and word 
Reveals transcendent thought and mighty power. 
'Tis ours most patiently to interpret all, 
And thus ourselves advance in spirit power, 
One end designed in the stupendous works. 
Not done in a moment as we, prescribed 
To time, are with childlike simplicity 
Accustomed to look upon the display 
Of power, but in ten thousand ages past : — 
For what is time to the eternal King ! 
How short the intervening ages since 



ioo Creation of Animals. 

The solar wheel began to turn till now, 

If multiplied succe'ssively by all 

The years consumed by the age of every star, 

To God's eternal years in darkness hid, 

Pavilioned in the shades of mystery ! 

How small the space from earth to sun compared 

With that betwixt the luminary globe 

Without the milky-way upon the outskirts 

Of space : and what this to infinity ! 

Shall finite mind prescribe the Infinite ? 

Can mortal thought dictate the time that God 

Should do His work ? Did He, the Architect 

Of this earth habitable, when employed 

In forming it, regard man's finite powers 

To judge how His Might should best be displayed ? 

As children let us view our Maker's works, 

And stand in dread awe of the mystery 

That's hid behind the veil impenetrable ! 

Our souls which only here begin to glow 

May thus grow brighter with ascriptions high. 

Enough we have to learn within our scope 

Of vision, ordered thus of God to employ 



Creation of Animals. 101 

Our minds immortal, destined to expand 

Throughout eternity, though now confined 

To earth and body so symmetrical. 

E'en in the cradle of our birth we plume 

Our wings to soar throughout the vast profound 

Of the universe to learn the wisdom, far 

Beyond our mortal ken, displayed in orbs 

Which nightly light the firmament of heaven, 

And shed influence far, both sweet and mild. 

E'en already ere our sojournment ends, 

Impatient we discourse their magnitude, 

The beaten paths they tread, their distance great 

Or small compared, and weight, — which more inflames 

Our souls than savory meats the hungry palate. 

But here we ne'er can learn with certainty 

Whether each is palatial rich, adorned 

With clouds luxurious, mountains, hills and plains 

As earth ; or souls immortal there inhabit, 

With bodies clad, adapted to their spheres. 

The future life these truths will render clear ! 

Earth is a laboratory to employ 
The powers of each succeeding race of men, 



102 Creation of Animals. 

And each discover something new ; a mine 

Of wealth which never fails to yield its ores, 

So precious to the soul, to those who dig 

Untiring, undistracted by the sight 

Of tinsel toys, and ply their noble work, 

Both night and day, through sunshine and in storm ; 

A book whose leaves support the present world 

Of beauty : the unfolding leaf by leaf 

Of which to read shall still engage our thought. 

The mother earth in her bliss conjugal 
But briefly slumbered with the parent sun • 
Inactive. God's command again compelled 
Her fruitful womb to yield the wondrous life 
Implanted by His power in hidden germs, 
Which Satan had discovered long ago, 
Both male and female, to which the command 
Was given to be fruitful, multiply 
And fill the land and seas, each of their kind. 
Few traces of the life which then arose 
In living species at this day exist : 
Ere man was born their sun in darkness set. 



Creation of Animals. 103 

But now enshrined in stone their petrified 
Remains exist entire, — they mute mementoes 
Of empires whose beauty, pride and strength, once — 
Ah, once ! how solemn is this tolling word- 
Flourished ; every empire of life a world 
As seen emerging from the old that's past. 

The eaglet's drooping wings the parent bird 
Perceives, and darts beneath her young to bear 
Them on her own, lest overcome they faint 
And fall : thus the accompanying Spirit's voice, 
Which nightly holds me intercourse, inspires 
My heart with courage to portray this world 
Of life, the fifth from the Creator's hand. 
O, pilgrim ! follow, nor sustain a fear 
To travel where God's hand hath wrought with power, 
And where His steps have been in majesty ! 

And God said, Let the waters in the seas 
And on the land produce abundantly 
The creatures having life to move and breathe 
Within their element. And fowl were made 
To fly in the air and open firmament 



104 Creation of Animals. 

Of heaven. By monstrous whales the seas were swollen. 
Dragons became unsightly in the deep. 
And every living creature smali and great, 
And every winged fowl after his kind 
Into active life and full being came. 

And God saw everything He made was good, — 
Whate'er from infinite beneficence 
Comes, when not misapplied by creature power, 
Is always good or beautiful or holy, — 
And blessing said, Be fruitful, multiply : 
For God, divine, to say or will is one. 
Scripture addresses man in human speech. 
The germs created are but once, develop 
And propagate thereafter by the laws 
Ordained : nor re-created if destroyed. 
Straightway the seas were swollen with animals 
And animalculas, each one distinct, 
And in inconceivable multitudes 
So dense the waters turned as into blood, 
As anciently the Nile when cursed of God : 
And each though so minute enjoys its life. 
The coral animals begin to build 



Creation of Animals. 105 

Their paradise of beauty deep beneath 

The roaring, rolling waves ; the barren shoals 

Of sand and solid rock were thus transformed 

As into a garden of verdure, rich 

In palaces, whose walls and corridors 

Seem curtained with the richest drapery ; 

Whose floors of white sand are bespangled o'er 

With shells ; and through whose branching columns 

play 

Little fish radiant in their crimson scales — 

A habitation where the Nereids dwell. 

These marvellous structures when complete appear 

Above the waves as floating fairy isles, 

Whose beach is strewn with sands of snowy white, 

The surface clothed in green perpetual 

Of tropic growth luxuriant; while within • 

The centre basks clear lakes or seas : above 

No less enchanting than the crystal deep. 

The Polynesian Archipelago 

Thus is formed, islands which Pacific's waves 

Ne'er can rend from their base, constructed e'en 

By the least creatures which the human eye 
5* 



106 Creation of Ani?)ials. 

Discerns. The seas primeval not alone 
Remarkable for such feeble architects, 
For fish innumerable, both small and great, 
In shoals move through the yielding element. 
They congregate according to their kind 
And spurn to associate with other tribes. 
As clouds of different hues at setting sun, 
So seem their shining scales upon the sea, — 
Some shoals of burnished gold, some silvery tinged, 
Or green or purple colored every shade. 
Together they repel the foe or make 
Attack, mailed thick with massive armor strong, 
And weapons for defence, or else to o'erpower 
And torture their conquered prey : far unlike 
The species, harmless when compared, that now 
Exist. But some with bright enamelled scales 
And graceful fins, of gentle habits, play 
Together happily among the groves 
Luxuriant on the ocean's floor, and feed 
Upon the sweet tender herbs undisturbed. 
The waters being warm and sluggish, most 
Needed scales thick to endure their element. 



Creation of Animals. 107 

Some single, of prodigious bulk and length, 

When lying still as towering rocks beat back 

The sullen waves ; or moving speedily 

The waters boil discordant in their wake ; 

Or when hungering, they give chase and raise 

A tempest, their red jaws distended wide 

To enclose their prey with a thunder crash ! 

Carnage when once begun is not allayed 

Till every gory wave has been engorged. 

Thus ocean's wide domain has been a dread 

Theatre of bloodshed from first possessed 

By animal life : not as fabled myths 

Conceived, that prior to the fall of man 

Unknown was strife and death to earth's creatures, — 

For their fangs to kill also tortured too ! 

To man when pure exemption from the pangs 

Of death was promised, while obedient. 

Without man's quick assent the devil ne'er 

Would have had power to reign in human souls ! 

Every creature having simply life 
And instinct, to preserve, perpetuate 



io8 Creation of Animals. 

And enjoy being, was an easy prey 

Or tool to govern in evil angel hands. 

Devoid of conscience, even when mature 

Subject to Satan's will and powerless. 

Of conscience unpossessed as yet was life, 

And hence the way for Satan's victory 

O'er them was sure unless restrained by God. 

So Christ, the world's great Teacher, taught our race 

While in the country of the Gergesenes, 

By giving heed to earnest prayer by devils 

Made, suffering them to possess a herd 

Of swine when cast from lunatics by power 

In Him inhering, Son of God, divine. 

The swine, controlled by devils now, their own 

Destruction sought, and madly rushed with one 

Accord into the sea and perished in 

The wat'ry deep. 'Twas also possible 

Alike and credible, if during earth's 

Formation, spirits, powers and potentates, 

Intent upon making here a struggle fierce 

For victory over whate'er is good, 

Possessed the different kinds and types, new germs 



Creation of Animals. 109 

Of creature life, when found developing, 
To mould and fashion into noxious beasts. 
From elements, since angels power possess 
To form and move in bodies like to men, 
As two, ere Sodom was destroyed, sojourned 
With Lot and in the city doomed to fire, 
'Tis not incredible should evil spirits 
Form noxious beasts to desolate the earth. 
'Twas wisdom hell conceived, to overcome, 
Subvert and vanquish all the powers of heaven, — 
Befitting Satan — worthy of his powers! 
Many of gentle, timid nature, lovely 
In form and spirit, 'scaped the watchful eye, 
Though ever on the alert, of evil angels, 
And now are cherished by the race of man. 
Satan nor angel is ubiquitous : 
Either directly or through other spirits 
They operate to compass their designs. 
If individuals are rendered fierce, 
When otherwise the nature of their kind, 
Separately they are possessed and governed 
By spirit independent of themselves. 



iio Creation of Animals. 

'Gainst these the venom and malignity 

Of devils from the dark abyss of hell 

Is gratified and fed by having beasts 

Voracious prey upon and gorge their blood — 

The latter creatures of Satanic power 

From the infancy of their kind in earth — 

To Satan like in spirit and employ. 

Also against the purest sons of men 

They ever hurl their keenest darts, and ne'er 

Relent when agonies endured by them 

Both pall and sicken even earth with gloom ! 

Though death reigns over innocent and fierce 
Alike, yet Satan solely renders it 
Calamitous. 'Tis bliss to live or die, 
In either case depending upon the use 
Of normal powers in healthy exercise : 
Doubtless their dying happier than their birth 
If uncorrupted by Satanic powers, — 
Truth illustrated by chrysalides 
Developing into bright butterflies. 
Within our casket, when unsightly, old, 



Creation of Animals. in 

Decrepit it becomes, the body worn 

And feeble, there exists a spirit form — 

A body like the angels beautiful — 

The old, like husk enclosing precious fruit, — 

Vast possibilities to be developed, 

When from the flesh and clay by death released, 

Which to a wondering world will be revealed : 

A stage advanced above our present life. 

But Spirit Power is requisite. No force 

In matter lurks to render butterflies 

Other than worms if reproduced by law 

Inherent. So man shuffling off this form 

Assumes a higher life, which if sustained 

In future life, becoming cherub-like, 

In beauty gorgeous will give God the glory ! 

Hence shocking is the theory, that man, 

Because related to the animal 

World, is developed from and for the earth 

Alone and by laws purely natural, — 

Subverting Scripture, reason, sentiment 

Common and universal 'mong our kind. 

Such science, falsely so called, vitiates 



112 Creaiio7i of Animals. 

Itself and violates the laws of thought. 

The more a creature lives in sense alone 

The farther he withdraws himself from God, 

Who's Spirit pure enthroned above the known, — 

Yea ! from self-spirit power, our only source 

Of bliss inhering in our nature fallen. 

Hence creatures born by power divine to die 

Ultimately, in no degree or sense 

Proves God the author of calamity. 

Himself pure spirit, holy, infinite 

Alone in every attribute of Being, 

Is lovely far above what heart conceives, — 

And nothing does but what is good and pure, — 

Which heaven to reveal holds in reserve. 

Here sin and Satan render death a sting ! 

But thanks to God who giveth even us, 

Who've sinned, a victory through Christ our Lord ! 

Much more if pure and holy, born to die, 

Would death have been our blissful hour on earth,— 

Unfolding life in higher, happier stage, — 

Developing from bud into the flower, — 

From mortal body into spirit form, 



Creation of Animals. 113 

Immortal, like to Christ our Lord, in Heaven, — 
Whose beauty on the Throne in Spirit body, 
From flesh and clay assumed when death released 
Him from the world, the eye of sense obscured 
And rendered John as dead beneath its rays ! 

Whatever creature, plant or beast or man, 
In kind or types distinct, imperfect taints 
Possess — are noxious, evil, hateful — this 
Is not the work of God, in spirit pure, 
But of the devils from the dark abyss, 
And bear the mark of Satan and his angels.* 
Our Saviour in His teachings once alone 
To unbelieving hearts imparts this truth, 
When healing by His touch a woman bound 
Of Satan, lo, for eighteen years. Strange words 
Were these from loving lips to Jewish ears. 
And strange they may appear in modern times 
To many little disciplined in thought — 
Assured of everything save ignorance. 

* Victor Hugo describes the Devil Fish as " a huge glutinous mass, with 
a demoniac will." 



1 14 Creation of Animals. 

The hypocrite addressed by Him assumed 

To teach the Master and the synagogue, 

Was ruler in the church and first opposed 

The work of Spirit Power in vanquishing 

The devil and his agency on earth. 

So too the devils-rendered lunatic 

Often, exceeding fierce and dangerous, 

Those they possessed among men : how much more 

Their power and certain over beasts or birds 

Or whate'er else they please to mould and rule ! 

The devils are in animosities, 

In wraths, iniquities, in tempests, storms 

And clouds which threaten earth or heaven, — not God 

In exercise of power, who's lovely, good 

And glorious, the light of spirit worlds 

Which sport and move throughout the universe 

In blissful freedom, God therein best known 

By e'en the angels gathered at His throne. 

The unstable continents and islands, washed 
By warm and tropic waves from pole to pole, 
And fanned by sickening torrid winds, are varied 



Creation of Animals. 115 

With valleys, irrigated by warm streams 
And murky lakes, enclosed by hills or plains 
With forests of the cypress, yew or fir : 
An even temperature from north to south. 
A hideous reptile, race with labor writhe 
And crawl, as if just oozing into life 
From out the filthy mire. Appalling is 
Their magnitude. When each successive coil 
Evolves, and stretched they lie full many a rood 
Along the marshes, if seen human sense 
Would faint and sicken at the horrid sight. 
'Twere black and ugly fiends, fond of filth, 
The lowest, most malignant which possessed 
And formed and ruled the horrid reptile race — 
Fact attested clearly by Mother Eve. 
Such massive lizards either walk the land 
Or swim the deep ; while some bask leisurely 
Upon the sandy shores, deposit eggs 
Abundant to fill earth with their huge tribes. 
Enormous crocodiles also here show 
Their frightful bulk upon the gloomy bays. 
Their eyes, impatient for an enemy 



n6 Creation of Animals. 

And battle fierce and carnage, strife and blood, 

Glare in the open space with angry fire, 

Like fiends, — when engaged in deadly strife 

Most happy, only intent to destroy : 

As armies hostile, pressed on by the rear, 

In strife continue till they lifeless lie 

Upon the plain : or as electric clouds 

With heaven's artillery charge, till all their force 

Is spent, then vanish : thus, an enemy 

Engaged, in mingled gore together bound 

They writhe and twine about in horrid coils 

For agony, as limb from limb is torn, 

Their panoply of horny scales is broken, 

Their armor torn away, but ne'er give o'er 

Till each the other's entrails find and tear, 

And each carcass lies strewn upon the plains. 

The iguanodon in tangled jungles 

Is seen, the largest reptile yet produced, 

Upon the land king as leviathan 

Is of the deep. Among the bogs and rank 

Weeds megalosauri lurk to secretly 

Spring and secure gigantic tortoises 



Creation of Animals. nj 

Or frogs, whatever unaware approach 

Within their reach : and scorpions hid beneath 

The fallen trees or rocks, from -whence their black 

Claws quick extend to seize their frightened prey. 

Such horrid lizards fierce inhabited 

The groves and swamps and lakes of continents, 

Now high above the then encroaching sea. 

Some such of size diminished still exist 

In Galapagos Archipelago, 

Under the equator, a pre-Adamite 

World. But to some of this reptilian race 

Were added wings to soar the air and pierce 

The clouds sublime ; to perch upon the high 

And snowy peaks, and glare their brazen eyes 

Into the azure sky. These dragon forms 

Colossal, stranger than in ancient myths, 

And more grotesque than poets ever dreamed, 

Seem fiends from the Stygian lake escaped 

And come to view the earth and see how near 

It reaches Paradise and blissful realms 

From whence they'd been expelled, — intent to rule 

The world. But these huge monarchs of the air, 



n8 Creation of Animals. 

So marvellous, began to vanish when 
Another tribe assumed their element. 

The fiends luxuriated to possess 
And fashion, mould and govern a higher kind, 
Like hideous harpies, bodies like to birds 
With feet and claws, but faces nearly human, 
Such as the ancients in their myths conceived. 
Gigantic fowl in myriads filled the air 
Like clouds, or swam in flocks upon the shoals, 
Or moved with oary feet upon the clear 
Bosom of lakes and seas, or filled dense groves 
Of pine and arborescent and tall fern 
When night began to draw her darkening cloud 
Around the perfecting earth, whose guttural clang, 
As lulling each his mate into repose, 
A harsh clang from unnumbered throats combined 
Inharmonious, rendered eve's stillness wild. 
The busy bee, but few as yet, now first 
Began to murmur in prophetic tones, — 
The future world of flowers is drawing nigh. 
The beautiful palm, the harbinger of peace, 
Arose meekly from out the humid soil, 



Creation of Animals. 119 

The crowned king of the vegetable world. 
Thus ended bright the morn of day the fifth, 
Against devices devils used to hinder 
God's work, to perfectness advancing still ; 
Whose evening and noon were characterized 
By monsters unsightly, their natures fierce ; 
And vegetation suited to an air 

And soil both warm and damp, — where frogs pre- 
vailed, — 
A paradise reptilian — not for man 
Adapted — still a charnel-house of death. 

The finishing touch from the Architect 
Omnipotent now earth receives, and teaches 
That power originates in spirit solely. 
The natural from the spiritual subsists, 
Without excepting aught that's seen or felt. 
No substance has power other than bestowed, 
Incorporate, by spirit pre-existent. 
Hence force in matter latent may exist 
For centuries and evermore, unless 
By spirit liberated in the use 



120 Creation of Animals. 

Of means : thus coal if kindled liberates 

Force, as also water turned into steam ; — 

But spirit acts to liberate the force : 

The self-same pre-existent force evolves, 

Is liberated, which at first was used 

To give it form, but acts otherwise simply 

Than that which formed the coal or element : 

Simply reversed, like wire springs uncoiled 

Evolve like force, the same which gave them tension. 

Matter is inert. Spirit solely gives 

Or liberates the force or power bestowed 

Originally by Omnipotence. 

The different stages of creative work 
Are drawing to a close. How rich the field 
For thought we've travelled o'er — how full of praise ! 
We enter now as in a cool retreat, 
A safe lagoon of fairy coral isles, 
And view with joy the prospect beautiful. 

And God said, Let the earth bring forth, each after 
His kind, the cattle, creeping things and beasts 
Of the earth after their kind : and it was so. 



Creation of Animals. 121 

A new and higher world of life appeared. 
Creatures innumerable by Spirit Power, 
Created was each germ, and now developed 
Lay half unconscious, and awoke to life 
As from a dream, and looked upon the ground 
And trees, and quaffed the fragrant air with strange 
Delight. Instinctively they then began 
To move their limbs ; discovered power to rise. 
Each sought his mate to multiply their kind, 
For such their nature was : and some in pairs 
Or herds, while others singly scoured the plains : 
While flocks of birds and insects spread abroad 
Their wings and sailed upon the ambient air. 

Now all the beasts and everything that creepeth 
The earth, were made, — their nature formed to enjoy 
A mode of life distinct in every kind. 
Most still exist, but some have passed away. 
Behemoth sluggishly then lay concealed 
In reeds and fens, or walked the mountain sides ; 
The dinotherium and the mastodon 
Colossal, and the mammoth shaggy-haired, 
Through forests dense and wide devoured the shrubs 



122 Creation of Animals. 

And trees, together with the elephant, 

Most gentle, noble in his mighty strength 

When unmolested, terrible when roused 

By foes, which scarce 'scape his sagacious tact ; 

The untractable rhinoceros, against 

Whose thick skin, as coat-of-mail, weapons sharp 

Rebound, wallowed unwieldy in the marsh ; 

Or river-horse, amphibious, among 

Stately grown reeds walked, or with sullen tread 

Plunged into the lakes, sank or swam at will. 

Not all quietly fed upon the shrubs 
And undisturbed lived peaceably, — for some 
Of nature fierce, ferocious, when the night 
Descended, from the brakes or dens came forth, 
And walked the plains with glaring eyes, or crouched 
Amid the thickets, or behind a ledge 
Of rocks and suddenly devoured their prey. 
The mighty lion, conscious of his strength, 
Proudly majestic, either walks or leaps 
And shakes the hills. Betimes with head uplift 
His roar re-echoes from the mountain sides. 
These and like, princes 'mong the evil spirits 



Creation of Animals. 123 

Possessed and governed, taking pride in them, 
Their strength and power to overcome their foes. 
The spirits now in strifes were frequent, one 
Against another through the beasts possessed, 
Inciting one another to devour. 
The bear, the tiger and the leopard fierce, 
Whose eyes ever roll restless for attack, 
Gnash their teeth upon their victims when afar, 
And lurking in the tangled brush their near 
Approach await. New insects numberless 
Of every size and color crawled the earth. 
The crafty serpent, noxious, now first seen, 
Moved his repulsive length upon the ground, 
The last to represent the reptile kind 
Before produced, but more degraded still. 
Some small and harmless, others venomous 
And huge with many a labyrinthine fold. 
Leviathan, sea monster huge lay writhed 
In many folds, involved among the waves, 
Unsightly, fierce, which voyagers desist 
To look upon for dread and change their course, 
Fearing more than the hidden shoals or rocks. 



124 Creation of Animals. 

A new race of fish swam the running streams 
And peopled every sea, luxurious food, 
And beautiful to the eye their delicate 
Fins and scales. Birds appeared now first 
Produced, an order higher than the fowl 
As seen the previous day : — the eagle, hawk, 
And vulture keen of sight, most like the kind 
Previous. But most were smaller, plumaged rich, 
Of nature gentle, timid, voiced to charm 
With melody the day and tedious night, 
Destined as sweet companions for the good. 

The earth replenished with whatever walked, 
Or crawled or swam or flew all lovely smiled, 
Containing all the fruit of past and germ 
Of what would future come, creation's crown. 
The green that once the hill slopes and dales clothed 
Gave place to trees and charming flowers and fruits. 
Club mosses, rank and bristly, yielded place 
To goodly trees expanding gracefully 
Their foliaged boughs : for fern and calamite 
Fruitless, which grew in thickets dense beside 
The waters, lakes and in the marshy pools, 



Creation of Animals. 125 

Sprang cereals and orchards flushed with fruit, 
Which bounteously now our tables load, 
And satisfy the heart of man and beast. 

Thus clearly spirit power in shade and light 
During the epoch travelled o'er appears ; 
Where day succeeds the night when all seems lost ; 
And beauty dawns from dense deformity ; 
And pleasures pains succeed as life from death ! 
For Spirit Infinite in light prevails, 
And blindly evil feeds and ministers 
To good, as clouds give beauty to the light, 
Reflect, and too make lovely setting sun ! 
O God ! our God ! how wonderful Thy power, 
Thy holiness, Thy glory, O ! how bright, 
Thy perfect wisdom deep, unfathomable, 
Thou dost alone the cravings of the mind — 
The creature mind and heart fulfil and meet 
And satisfy, — aught else creates unrest 
And leaves a void which nature never fills ! 



BOOK VII 

CREATION OF MAN. 

Almighty Elohim looked upon the world 
And said, Let us now make man in our image, 
In our own likeness : and let them have rule 
Over the fish of sea and fowl of the air 
And over cattle, every creeping thing 
That creepeth on the ground and all the earth. 
Then God created man both beautiful 
And lovely : in the image like Himself 
Him He made ; male and female them created. 
Then blessing by conferring blessings, said, 
Be fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth 
And subdue it : and have dominion over 
Fish of the sea and fowl whose element 
Is air and over every living thing 
That moveth upon the face of all the earth. 



128 Creation of Man. 

Not necessarily full-grown when first 
He came from the Almighty Maker's hand : — 
A mammoth infant, ignorant, mature, — 
With instinct less than brutes', — with senses, limbs 
Entire, but knowing not the function, use 
Or office of a single one, — an infant 
In intellect and in his moral powers — 
His smile e'en would betray an idiot — 
With body full-grown coming into the world 
And powerless ! — this theory accepted 
Is sheer credulity, unauthorized 
By science, nor revealed by God to man. 
Religious faith by fancies mythical 
Is not sustained, but by the light of truth. 
Science and nature see a prodigy, — 
A monster birth, disrupting nature's womb 
Maternal, violating sense and reason 
In man mature, and born to earth full-grown ! 
Thus scepticism is helped, not overcome, 
By faith more honest than intelligent. 

Earth offers nothing sweeter than a babe, — 
So innocent and tender, chaste and pure 



Creation of Man. 129 

That scarcely we'll believe but heaven is robbed 

Of cherubs from Elysian fields of bliss, 

When they in earth appear and smile with love : 

And angel pinions seem to fan the air ; 

And multitudes who guard their bed with care, 

While gently sleeps the babe in arms of peace. 

In feeble infancy the Living God 

Unfolds in history His mighty plans. 

Moses a lovely babe upon the Nile 

And Christ a manger babe in Bethlehem 

Of subsequent events are living germs. 

'Tis thinkable that from a human germ, 

Created new as other germs before, 

Impregned in what is nearest kin to man 

By Spirit Infinite, miraculous, 

By God intervening, a lovely babe 

At first was Adam ; nurtured till mature ; 

Of God provided for : — for matter ne'er 

Advanced one species higher than its kind ; 

And spirit finite knows no law, — desire 

Has none a higher type to propagate 

Other than its own. This is nature's law 
6* 



130 Creation of Man. 

By revelation and experience known. 

The highest type of life is powerless 

Save only to use and in its normal use 

To strengthen that with which it is endowed. 

To advance from lower to a higher type 

Is suicidal as the phcenix bird 

Upon her nest in flames, her funeral pyre. 

For man's regeneration spiritual 

God's agency alone the Scriptures teach 

Us is required — truth made prominent 

In God's word : much more then for physical, 

Since force in matter is through spirit solely, 

And independent of the Infinite 

At times, indeed, our spirit wills and acts. 

E'en spirit ne'er regenerates itself: 

Much more where matter is advanced above 

Its kind, must Spirit act and do the work, 

And Spirit Infinite, whose dwelling-place 

And awful throne are hid from mortal view. 

Thus Jesus in the virgin womb of Mary 

By Spirit Power Divine, the Holy Ghost 

O'ershadowing mortal flesh, became God's Son- 



Creation of Man. 131 

Beyond conception higher than earth's sons, 
Yet of His mother nursed and taught, a babe 
Helpless, subject to parents till mature ! — 
The highest revelation history 
Records of earth and man. O ! holy thought, 
That Christ not only paves the way to Heaven, 
But also rends the veil of mystery 
Dividing past and future, showing how 
Higher types of life into Being came, — 
Not by laws natural, but Spirit Power ! 
His birth and death alike the mysteries 
Of ages lay bare to intelligence. 
God intervenes where nature's laws, ordained 
Of Him, fail to accomplish His designs. 
O ! multiform the expression of Himself 
He gives, infinite, in heaven and in earth ! 
Proud Rome, arraying lineage divine, 
Claims for its founders Romulus and Remus, 
Silvia's offspring by the god of war, 
Their mother mortal, but their sire divine. 
The legend also tells us that the babes 
Weeping at the foot of Palatine Hill 



12,2 Creation of Man. 

The savage nature of a female wolf 
Softened and moved to give them suck and rear 
In her own cave, together with her young. 
Not improbable, for in modern times, 
Of recent date in Ind, in tropic climes 
Two babes thus nurtured were until mature. 
Thus legends, fables, myths of ancient lore 
Become oftentimes the shadows of the truth. 

Adam of dust made, having life, became 
With soul divine God's image manifest : 
The lord of earth's domain, whose sovereign eye 
Ferocious beasts induced to fawn beneath 
His feet, subject to his will when mature. 
So nobly formed, with limbs symmetrical, 
Erect he moved majestic. Earth with pride 
And swelling bosom heaved to feel his tread ; 
As throbs a maiden's guileless heart when first 
She hears the voice of love from him for whom 
Impatiently she yearns. His countenance beamed 
Radiant and heavenly pure with smiles of bliss. 

Thus perfect formed, the noble flower of earth 
Appeared, — last-born : the summary of all 



Creation of Man. 133 

Perfections of the previous life ; in whom 
The types prefiguring his coming were 
Fulfilled and culminate : the end and aim 
For which this temple grand, magnificent 
Was building through unreckoned ages past. 

With man creation ceased — the finished work. 
The mountains, continents and isles were fixed, 
Immovable ; their end and office knew ; 
The restless waters measured and their bounds 
Assigned. All progress ceased and staid its march 
In wondrous man, creation's perfect work 
So far as earth was destined to reveal, 
As flow the lucid streams of ruddy dawn 
Into the splendors of meridian day. 

How beautiful is man ! who apprehends, 
In measure knows God as revealed in all 
His works, where manifest His glory shines, — 
In studying which his intellectual powers 
Expand, and he becomes in brilliant thought 
And high resolve and lofty flight more like 
Divinity. A child of heaven, who looks 
With longing hope for immortality ; 



134 Creation of Man. 

Whose soul may break away from chains of sense, 

Weigh anchor and exulting bear away 

Into the ocean of immensity ; 

Whose fancy paints the rosy skies and flowers 

In brighter tints, the verdant vales and hills 

In richer green, and beautifies the real : 

With reason too endowed, the highest gift 

In exercise his spirit power possessed : 

Whose sympathetic heart responds to all 

The world without. The thunders deep and harsh, 

And echoes of soft zephyrs 'mong the trees ; 

The music of the groves, the fountains, streams 

And dales ; the gloomy night and brilliant day 

All find within the breast of man a chord 

Responsive. Man accountable and free 

Was too with will intelligent endowed ; 

A power to sink his soul in endless woe, 

Or move beneath the rays of majesty 

Divine, unveiled, and ever contemplate 

God's glory and ethereal purity. 

O ! grave and awfully sacred was the trust ! 

With this no finite power in heaven or earth 



Creation of Man. 135 

Compares : a human gulf, both fathomless 
Deep and wide — infinite to separate 
Mankind and isolate him from the world ! 
Endless would be the task recounting all 
The excellence and glory in which man 
Upon creation shone, — transcending thought. 
To man thus formed was given every herb 
Bearing seed upon the face of all the earth, 
And every tree which yielded fruit for food. 
And God complacently surveyed His work 
And satisfied pronounced it very good. 

In the East, where blooming nature sweets pro- 
duce 
Of choicest kind for luxury to sense 
Of sight and smell and taste, there Paradise 
Was planted. And out of the ground God caused 
To grow every tree pleasant to the sight 
And good for food, — while in the midst the tree 
Of life, whose fruit infused the soul with love 
Of holiness and gave a heavenly joy 
Which angels feel : and near by stood the tree 



136 Creation of Man. 

Bearing fruit of knowledge of good and evil, 
As beautiful and proudly eminent. 

Eden high elevated, to view earth's 
Expanse as lying at her feet and feel 
The heavenly warmth of genial air, was rich 
In scenery such as the eye ne'er since 
Beheld : the mountain chains abrupt and high 
In grand magnificence, and hills and plains 
And valleys cool in shade meandered wild 
And richly beautiful, as nature here 
Was prodigal of her exhaustless wealth. 
From Eden's blissful plains, as from a throne 
Of bliss, a river flowed to irrigate 
The fertile soil and parted into four 
Streams ; the first Pison whose impetuous flow 
Cut gorges deep and rushed in headlong speed 
Around the land of Havilah, where gold 
And palms and fragrant gum and onyx stone 
Abound, thence lost into the Caspian Sea ; 
The second Gihon foamed with angry roar 
Through narrow mountain gorges and down steep 
Precipices, and encompassed the whole 



Creation of Man. , 137 

Land of Cush ; next is Hiddekel which goeth 
Toward the east of Assyria and now joins 
The fourth, Euphrates, which together flow 
Into the Persian Gulf far at the south. 

There might be heard the low and sullen moan 
Of waves upon the north and east and south, 
Contrasting with their own sweet melody 
Of sparkling rills and fountains, and there seen 
The tranquil plains and smooth unbroken downs 
Extended far in the west, in glory crowned 
Pre-eminent : — a throne that reached the clouds 
Whence came the crystal streams, diverse their course, 
And watered ridges, terraces and plains 
Till where the horizon drew its curtain round 
The earth — a habitation where the Lord 
Appeared at times and angels loved to linger. 

Beneath the shade of cedars, towering oaks 
And branching elms, and all the sylvan trees 
Of goodly growth, flocks sportive played in wild 
And happy glee without the thought of harm. 
Gentle lambs skipped upon the meadows green, 
And kid upon the steep and rugged rocks, 



138 Creation of Man. 

While sweet gazelles about the fountains clear 
Frisking romped in their modest kindly way. 
Here animals of nature fierce and wild 
Dared not intrude ; or if an entrance found 
Their vengeful eye to soft expression changed. 
Among the thickly woven branches, close 
Entwined, in happy unison all kind 
Of animals of gleesome nature played. 
In the waters 'mong the golden sand and pearl, 
And from beneath and round green mossy rocks 
Darted fish, whose scales colored rich and rare 
Gave forth a lustre changed at every turn. 
How sweetly reigned repose and peace and joy 
Within this pleasant garden — Heaven on earth ! 

This happy seat was given into the hands 
Of man to dress and keep and beautify, — 
Worthy his care and he a worthy lord. 
His princely form, his full reflective eye, 
His high and noble brow with thought profound, 
His every move and look, an energy — 
A conquering power which nature dreads to dare, 
Sincerity and truth and faith combined 



Creation of Man. 139 

With holiness and other qualities 
Revealed the image of his Maker, God. 

Yet independence absolute, to act 
His will with sovereign pleasure, was withheld 
By God who formed him from the dust, — whose voice 
Declared His own supremacy in tones 
Of thunder as devouring fire, which shook 
The earth and heaven : — Of every tree thou mayest 
Freely eat save the fruit borne by the tree 
Of knowledge of both good and evil, which 
Shall not be eaten : for in the day thou eatest 
Thereof thou'lt surely die. The sole command 
Thus given resounded through the heavenly courts 
And angels heard ; and darkness covered all 
The earth, which sank beneath the penalty 
As when an earthquake rocks a continent : 
So nature long after gave signs of woe 
When Christ in agony cried upon the cross ! — 
Eli, eli, lama sabachthani ! 
And Israel at Mount Sinai, hearing God's 
Voice, saw the mountain quake and flames burst forth 
And the earth tremble at their feet, as waves 



140 Creation of Ma7i. 

Of troubled ocean when by tempests riven, — 
And Israel greatly fearing sought the feet 
Of Moses and entreated that the voice 
Should not again address them, le'st they die ! 
Adam with reverence heard and resolved 
To keep the solemn trust inviolate. 

'Twas fitting Adam's body made of dust, 
Or elements which constitute the earth, 
Should subject be to Spirit Power, Supreme — 
Like earth itself; his spirit too submiss, 
And recognize Creative glory — high 
Enthroned above himself and all the earth. 
The interdicted tree thenceforth became 
A voice proclaiming to him — reverence ! — • 
A heavenly voice ; its solemn accents love ; 
Obeyed — the cadences were alway sweet, 
Like nature's laws when madly not infringed. 

Then before Adam were brought every beast 
Of the field and all cattle and the fowl 
Of heaven ; and Adam named them as they passed 
According to their nature and their kind. 

When angels pure, in human form, were absent 



Creation of Man. 141 

He lonely seemed : no sweet communion found 
With any living form that met his eye. 
To his voice no response in answer came 
From kindred heart. Alone in revery 
He'd wander happy in his innocence. 
During the day beside the fountains sit 
And muse upon their beauty and the life 
Within, or ramble through the fragrant bowers 
Reflecting how perfect was every plant 
And flower : by night beneath the canopy 
Of heaven, in silent awe he'd contemplate 
The eternal splendor of the starry hosts. 
The soothing glow of love unkindled lay 
Dormant within his breast. 'Twas thus not long. 
Heaven loved too well earth's perfect, chosen son. 
Upon a time as was his wont, embowered 
By asphodels and hyacinths, and fanned 
By the cool, fragrant gale of sweets in Eden, 
And asleep, God from his throbbing side took 
Wherewith to form a woman for his love, — 
To kindle in his nature passions new, 
Ecstatic, most akin to those of heaven. 



142 Creation of Alan. 

Long nursed by angels, hid from man or beast 
Or fiend, fed upon ambrosial meats, 
She grew in beauty, grace and charm akin 
To cherub angels from elysian plains, 
Who lovingly protected her from ill. 
Ere long mature she was to Adam brought. 
Her fair skin like the lilies in the streams 
Of Paradise shed forth a lustre soft 
As the first blush of morn ; her tresses hung 
In wild luxuriance round her shoulders, decked 
With choicest flowers, which winds in dalliance moved 
And whispered in their happy sportful play 
The while as fairies 'mong the tender herbs ; 
With head reclining, in her heaving breast 
Humility was marked in every move 
And look, submission and a sweet reserve, — 
Veiling but most revealed the hidden worth ; 
Naked though not ashamed, for innocent. 
Adam embraced his tender bride and felt 
Himself a gushing fountain full of love — 
A new delight which rendered Eden Heaven. 
Now heaven's best sift was first revealed to earth. 



Creation of Man. 143 

Love ! heaven's light ; an attribute of God ; 
More sweet than aught else ; pure, immortal fire ; 
Which angels share and have in eminence, — 
Exceeding beautiful, undimmed by sin ; 
Which lights this gloomy vale — this vale of tears, 
Transforming earth to heaven, when bright it shines 
And pure within our sacred shrine, the heart ! 
Paradise seemed a desert waste apart 
From her whose tenderness, simplicity 
And every womanly charm, radiant shed 
Peculiar lustre and grace in their sweet 
Abode. Naught here was wanting to complete 
Their bliss unalloyed, overflowing full. 

The lovely pair at times walked 'mong the fig, 
Citron and almond trees, and plucked the fruit 
Delicious hanging upon the bended boughs 
Inviting them indulgent to repast ; 
Or half reclined upon a downy bed 
Of violets beside the streams of Eden 
And talked of love. While swans before them played 
Upon the glassy waters ; and birds sang 
In chorus songs of thrilling ecstasy ; 



144 Creation of Man. 

And bees in myriads hummed among the flowers 
And blossomed fruit trees, diligently sipped 
Their nectar sweet ; and butterflies, whose wings 
With iris tinged and dust of gold, begemmed 
The air. Then all creation echoed love 
Within the gates of Eden, their sweet realm. 
When glowed the West with red, and evening 

shades 
Drew on, retired within their garnished bower, 
The nightingales enchanting notes of soft 
And wild and warbling melody would lull 
Them to repose : a rest, which innocent, 
They only knew — to mankind since denied ! 
Undisturbed by dire grief, which oft in sleep 
Beat us as waves upon a rocky coast, 
The happy pair reposed in quietude, 
As lakes of Paradise translucent slept 
In the arms of their smiling shores. Their bed, 
Of violet flowers perfumed with spikenard, myrrh 
And frankincense ; their canopy, the vault 
Cerulean, as 'twere curtains scarlet rich, 
Adorned with stars, seemed stooping low to hide 



Creation of Man. 145 

And shield them from the world, whose diadem 
They were, creation's crown and set with gems. 

All nature, every animal and man 
Within the gates of Eden's realm., were good 
And true and beautiful — for former things 
Had passed away, — by Spirit Power subdued : 
A prophecy of heaven and earth reclaimed 
When this our present period shall end. 
Without the realm of happy Eden all 
The powers of darkness were as fierce, malign 
And evil as before : a truth adverse, 
A prophecy against the theories 
Which claim that sin will be in time extinct, 
Like reptiles of a pre-historic age ; 
That God cannot, in virtue of His love, 
Forbear to save all, both in earth and hell ! 
Fain we'd endorse did Scripture teach the view, 
Or reason even, divorced from sentiment. 
Vain trust for license to indulge in sin ! 
Sin ne'er extinguishes the spirit life, 

Like luminaries once in heaven whose fires 

7 



146 Creation of Man. 

Are quenched ; and God nowhere encourages 
Belief, that hell shall ultimately cease, 
But solemnly we're taught the opposite. 
Like wanton boys in chase of baubles, bright 
To eye of sense, men trifle thus with God 
Or heaven or hell, for all eternity ! 

From heaven to Eden in shining myriads 
The angels pure and sweet now visited 
The happy human pair : for harmony 
Prevailed — peace reigned in blissful Paradise 
Subject to heaven's light and purity. 
A beauteous halo of the heavenly world 
Illumed their brow ; a smile so gentle, meek 
And kind that every hidden spring of love 
In man or angel was unsealed thereby: 
Untarnished by the blighting touch of sin : 
Whose beauty shone with lustre unimpaired 
By years, and virtue with no weakness charged. 
Adoring worshippers, who contemplate 
The Deity's perfections as revealed, — 
Who've ever dwelt where truth and beauty reigns,- 



Creation of Man. 147 

Where universal knowledge is disclosed, — 
Where mysteries for ages hid are searched 
Out and continually are unsealed. 
Most beauteously they reflect the grace 
Of love, which in an infinite degree 
Abides within the heart of Deity, — 
A feature that endears, pre-eminent 
In heaven — the virtue of their spirit pure. 

Tis here spirit finite, in normal state, 
Its highest excellence and grace attains, — 
Is lovely as the glowing light of heaven, — 
As beautiful as glows a maiden's cheek, — 
As sweet as flowers when wet with morning dews, — 
And ravishing in all that reader heaven 
A Paradise for joy and bliss ecstatic : 
Attains to power for thought as days give place 
To years, and years to all eternity, 
Becoming nigher like God, infinite — 
But ever humble, ne'er in lust for power, 
Unconscious, seemingly, of excellence ! 

From lofty eminences in their realm 
Angels viewed earth and Paradise and man. 



148 Creation of Man. 

As ne'er before the fountain of their love 

Was moved for man ; with them co-heir of heaven 

And bliss and glory. Paradise revealed 

A glory new and unsurpassed in heaven — 

Evil subdued and life produced from death. 

From heaven solely came such wealth of love 

As now in angel bosoms yearned for man. 

Nor unrequited were the angels ; Adam 

And Eve gave quick response in sympathy 

And accord with their heavenly visitants. 

Such harmony as quivered through the realm 

Of Eden, and love that moved the human soul 

And angels, earth ne'er since has known or felt. 



BOOK VIII. 
MAN'S FALL. 

Alas ! that man should barter Paradise 
For woe and death : and not he suffer solely, 
But should entail the same upon the race, — 
Else holy, innocent and happy still. 

The human pair could eat the fruit of life, 
And thus preclude the withering and cold chill 
Of death, and live in holiness forever, — 
Had they withstood temptation as did Christ, 
Our Lord, for forty days and nights assailed : 
For of the tree of knowledge of both good 
And evil God forbade them taste or touch. 
Thus narrow is the road dividing life 
From death : the way enticing too. All seems 
Pleasant and fair along that highway, paved 



150 Maizs Fall. 

With flowers and cooled with arborescent trees, — 
But 'tis the way of death ! Upon this tree 
Grew fruit whose touch both soul and body poisoned, 
Though good for food and pleasant to behold, — 
Because forbidden them of God, Supreme. 
In Eden it grew nigh the tree of life. 
The way dividing life from death's abyss 
Is easily crossed by man's or hell's device. 
The serpent subtily an entrance found 
In Eden, unbeknown to man or angel, 
Guided by Satan, a fit habitat 
For the hostile enemy of God and man, 
Which the Devil led to tempt with fair words 
The destined mother of the human race ; 
And taught its forked and fiery tongue to speak 
His hellish thoughts respecting God's command 
In words of scorn, which led Eve to transgress. 
For scorn disarms the soul of fear and love, 
Subjects the tempted to the tempter's wiles. 
With such infernal art the Devil, Eve 
Addressed, his suit won, the end of which was death. 
Yea ! hath God said, ye shall not eat the fruit 



Mans Fall. 151 

Of every tree that in the garden grows ? — 
The subtle serpent scornfully inquired. 

The woman meekly answering said, The fruit 
Of every tree we may with freedom eat, 
Save that of good and evil, which alone 
God forbade us eat or touch lest we die. 

The artful tempter, knowing well the heart 
Of woman, innocent and credulous, 
Filled her breast with ambitious themes, unthought 
Before, the source of woe, from whence have flown 
The streams which deluge earth with woe and 

death ! 
Ye shall not surely die : for God doth know 
That in the day ye eat thereof your eyes 
Shall open and ye shall with clearness see 
Both good and evil, then shall be as gods, 
Exalted 'bove your present state, and range 
The heavens whence angels come as swift as light, — 
The Devil answered, charging first a lie 
Upon the Infinite and holy God, 
And after, with ambitious schemes he filled 
The breast, as pure as snow, of lovely Eve ! 



152 Mans Fall. 

The heartless Tempter, bent on naught but ill, 
The Serpent, now had done his wicked work. 

■Modern philosophy when questioning 
Whether it was an actual reptile used 
Nothing gains. Scriptures simplify the truth. 
'Tis not improbable the beast by Satan 
Was fashioned, — certainly 'twas suitable 
For him to lead and compass his designs. 
An ass a wicked prophet once rebuked 
Through spirit not her own, controlled thereby. 
Our tongues are mute not moved by spirit power, 
Which may another's be and not our own. 
Christ His disciples taught dependence upon 
Himself, when they to answer cavilling kings 
Were called, instructing them, 'Tis I that speak. 
The form of matter used by spirit power 
To act for good or evil signifies 
Little and is quite immaterial. 
Philosophy is rendering itself 
Ridiculous, is pusillanimous, 
Is in her dotage state, or run to seed, 



Mans Fall. 153 

When cavilling about a serpent used 
For speech by spirit power. Will please the savans 
Answer, How comes their tongues, of matter pure, 
To speak their cavilling thoughts and vain conceits ? 

Ambitious, lofty aims then first possessed 
Eve's mind, made discontented with her lot 
Of meek subjection to the higher powers : 
Forgetting that her sphere was that of love 
And purity, — a sweet ethereal power 
Of equal weight against a conquering grasp 
Of thought, subjecting elemental force, 
And delving deep in hidden mystery. 
Oft had she drank of wisdom's fount which flowed 
All pure and lucid from the noble soul 
Of Adam, while she in his bosom lay, 
And nestled there a gentle dove, and cooled 
His brow with her hand delicately white 
As lilies which in Eden's fountains grew. 
Oft had she all lovingly watched the glow 
Of ardent zeal that burned his cheek and fired 

His eye, and listened to his words of power 

7* 



154 Mans Fall. 

Refreshing to her soul like summer showers 
Upon a thirsty soil. She to inquire, — 
He to instruct, — and amply paid his zeal 
If but he heard her music voice approve, — 
She to react and soften his manly powers, 
Were formed — each noble in their sphere alike. 
The tempter by his artful words induced 
Lovely Eve to forego her sweet dominion 
Over man and filled her soul with new thoughts, 
Ambitious aspirations, far beyond 
The appointed end for which made by the hand 
Divine. So now with other eyes than erst 
She looked upon the fatal tree, her soul 
Already poisoned by the serpent's guile. 
Behold the fruit was luscious, good for food, 
Of scent that sharpened keen the appetite ; 
And pleasant to the eye, of yellow tint 
And reddish glow ; but last of all, a fruit 
Desirable to make one wise. This thought 
Prevailed ; the moving cause her love for Adam 
Possibly ; — thinking she'd to him impart 
Surprising wisdom, hidden hitherto, 



Mans Fall. 155 

And please and emulate her noble lord. 

In her simplicity she credited 

The subtle, lying words by Satan spoken, 

Or else forgetful of the doom imposed, 

Or drowning for the time the warning voice 

Within, most rashly plucked the fruit and ate ! 

The angels one and all from Paradise 
Took flight at once, amazed but sorrowful 
As ne'er before, and entering heaven's realm, 
A mighty host, with faces veiled beneath 
Their wings, in broken sighs the news conveyed ! 

The deed was done — that chilled the universe 
Like death ! in heaven the angels' countenances fell : 
They dropt their golden harps, — all music ceased — 
And silence reigned : for there the spirits pure 
Who kept their first estate, watched long in dread 
Suspense God's new created work, upright 
Man, wondering if he'd stand or grossly fall. 
They knew that God offended was a fire 
Devouring : saw the awful penalty 
Inflicted upon the rebel spirits, once 



156 Mans Fall. 

As pure as they, their brethren and their kin. 
Was man so lovely, for whom their souls yearned 
With pure affection, strong as angels feel, 
Destined to undergo like doom ; to be 
Transformed to devils vile, and chained with chains 
Of adamant, confined to sulphurous waves 
Which bellow harshly and shriek through the depths 
Infernal ; earth lose its sweetness, formed 
In vain, — the charnel-house of woe in place 
Of joy ? One cherished hope alone was left : 
Adam was uninformed as yet by Eve 
Of the crime she'd done, and untempted stood 
Alone in holiness. The angels paused 
Expectant, hopeful that all was not lost. 

Not long uncertain : Eve was tempter now, 
Divinely formed with every winning grace, 
And no marvel if Adam was her slave, 
Devoted, alway yielding to her suit 
With quick assent. Not easy to entice 
Would Adam pure have been in Satan's hands. 
But Eve the tempter, though his judgment, heart 
And conscience disapproved, her loving smile 



Mans Fall. 157 

And plea and sweet caresses to resist 

Was humanly, though pure, beyond his power. 

With her to suffer all the penalty 

And die, if die they must, was preferable 

To having Eve endure alone the sting ! 

Thus reasoned love, and from her hand he took 
The baneful fruit, all fair without, and he 
With her did eat. All now was over. Hell's 
Discordant jubilee rolled grimly round 
The throne of light and power where sat the King 
Eternal. Heaven was mournful sad — in gloom ! 
The angels closed their eyes, and bowing hid 
Their radiant faces in their hands — and wept ! 

So closed the solemn drama, whose sad gloom 
Invaded for a second time heaven's light, 
And palled the universe. The eyes of both 
Were opened and they saw — their nakedness. 
Eve erst, all happy, holy, innocent, 
Pure as the lily white was now condemned, 
Both soul and body to death temporal 
And death eternal ere the voice of God 



158 Maris Fall. 

Was heard : and Adam of unrivalled power 
And excellence with her like doomed. Their crown 
They forfeited by sin ; the deed their own. 
Tempted they aimed at independence, wished 
Like Satan, who first against heaven conspired, 
To be like gods, and vile like Satan grew, — 
With hell's fierce fire just kindled in the soul. 

Alas ! how changed the temple, so adorned 
And brilliant, noble, perfect to reflect 
Divinely the image of their Maker God ! 
But desolate its ruins — by sin laid waste, 
Which solely mars or utterly destroys, 
And since has filled the earth with groans and blood ! 

Now gloom, palled of hell, settled heavily 
Upon the world ; and sepulchres of death 
And horrid powers were opened and laid bare 
In earth. An ancient night of chaos seemed 
About to add a realm to hell's domain. 

Separate by transgression from the source 
Of life, the spirit shattered drifts away 
From God, His hand not on the helm, with sails 



Mans Fall. 159 

Full spread before the ever-veering gale. 

The evil passions, selfishness, deceit, 

Resentment, hate and all that from corrupt 

Nature flow gain firm hold upon the soul 

Debased, depraved, — the understanding dark, — 

Blind to the beauteous light of holiness : 

Bound firmly in bonds of iniquity, 

The chains of more than adamantine strength : 

The conscience overpowered by evil lusts, 

Impaired by every new offence, until 

Its tender, sweetest tones, are indistinct : 

Its spirit power impaired for good ; — for evil 

Rendered more vigorous by length of time 

And practice in the ways of sin. No power 

Annihilates the soul, or can except 

Omnific and Divine, which gave it being. 

No suicide of soul in earth or hell 

By any seeking death is possible. 

O ! could the dense, dark veil of mystery 

Be lifted from the spirit world, and light 

From the empyrean heights shine upon the depths 

And for a moment fallen spirit self 



160 Mans Fall. 

Behold, debased in all its moral power, 
Its true estate compared to holiness 
Conceive, — aghast and shrieking it would seek 
Sulphurous hell congenial for relief! 

To charge the holy God with sin, because • 
Forsooth the human pair and angels fell, 
Is sacrilege by fools without the worth 
Of effort to reclaim, — who're past the power 
Of thought, the light of reason or of truth ! 
The guilt was man's. A covenant for life 
He broke, which for his happiness heaven made. 
Rash man perverted what was done in love: 
If God His creatures with a silken cord 
Thus chose to bind for good, to quicken faith 
In Him, their highest good, who can dispute 
His love ; and to condemn, as lawful judge, 
If man from unbelief transgressed ? For faith 
Absent, man is in league with hell no less 
When first he fell in Eden than now ! The dread 
Fiend death firmly on the soul had seized, 
Which with his horrid rule he swayed, as God 
Forewarned, the moment man partook the fruit 



Mans Fall. 161 

Forbidden : for all communion with the source 
Of moral excellence ceased, which is life. 
Immortal man by disobedience steeped 
In moral guilt and vile impurity- 
Was lost alas ! for all eternity ! 

In novelistic attitude and mien 
Some modern churches cry for charity, 
For sentimentalism and fictious tales ; 
For soft and sweet words to state startling truths ; 
For lavender religion oiled with sweets 
To gratify the sense, though spirit starve 
And die, — in soporific state prefer 
To dream rather than be brought into action 
By statements clear of what the Scriptures teach : 
And thus awake, alas ! as Dives waked 
In hell, confused, amazed, from torpor self 
Imposed, to face an awful doom eternal ! 
Their clergy yield for bread, and meekly ask 
In pious accents, Why the lethargy 
In church and evil rampant in the world ? 
If any nobly stand to vindicate 



1 62 Ma?is Fall. 

The truth — less keen to what is popular 

Than honest in what Heaven ordains to teach, — 

They're deemed imprudent, reckless and unwise 

By patronage men, who're wise weathercocks 

To steepled churches, falsely pastors called. 

Such pastors not alone at fault, though shame, 

Confusion and remorse belong to them 

For cowardice and sacred trust betrayed ; 

But clamorous for sentiment their churches 

Crave novelty, and light and frivolous 

Antics to please imaginative sense, ' 

The eye or ear ; prefer the sacred desk 

Adorned with blossom-youth, and tender, bright 

And jovial, upon the fashions posted — 

Not over-freighted with theology, 

And loathe* the fruit which long experience 

Has well matured in beauty, age and grace ! 

By elders e'en the inexperienced 

Are placed above the aged, wise and good, 

And deemed both eminent and fit to lead — 

And so the youths esteem and think themselves ! 

'Tis then that every boy or boor prefers 



Mans Fall. 163 

Himself a candidate for churchly office — 
Where ignorance is equal to conceit, — 
Good cobblers spoiled in making poor divines ! 
Such churches blossom ask, on blossom starve, — 
And shame the blessed cause espoused by them, — 
Forgetting God Supreme, relying most 
Upon fertility untried of genius 

Supposed or claimed, which may produce pure grain, 
Or may but yield prolific noxious weeds. 
Religious thought, discourse mature, condensed 
Is deemed infliction rude, unkind by brain 
Too giddy save to be adorned with flowers, 
With heart insensible and dull and cold — 
Spirit power, alas ! quenched in opiates, — 
For neither good nor evil capable 
To any great or serious extent. 

Themselves they wrong more than afflict their kind. 
Alas ! that spirits like to God should sport 
Themselves— -mere birds or butterflies adorned 
With gaudy wings to glitter for a day, — 
And die for lack of food where plenty reigns ! 
Jesus ! who to the infant Church didst send 



164 Mans Fall. 

Thy blessed Spirit, Comforter Divine, 

To fire with heat celestial and revive 

Its drooping faith, oh, lead our wandering feet 

From haunts of gayety and stifling airs 

And worldly indolence, in pastures green, 

Amid the olive groves with Thee to watch 

And pray, or in the mountain solitudes — 

In spirit to behold Thee in Thy home 

From clear and heavenly atmospheres, most blessed ! 

'Twas wrath Divine against appalling sins 

That agonize the world, which caused Thy soul, 

O, dearest Lord ! to agonize for us, 

With prayers and burning words in Olive's shade ; 

Which bowed Thee as a feeble thing to earth ; 

Which sickened Thee to bleed at every pore ; 

Which forced dark waters, supernatural gloom, 

And dread of death and fear of wrath Divine 

To overwhelm Thy pure, transparent soul ; 

Which caused beneath the heavy load Thy head 

To droop and sink, deathlike upon Thy breast ! 

And now, O ! horrible to think ! shall man — 

For whom such sacrifice is made, deem sin 



Mans Fall. 165 

But light and trivial, a little cloud 

Perchance that will soon disappear, a web 

That can but easily be brushed away ? 

Shall man deem service in the church a light 

And easy thing, and smile a sunshine day 

And night, and breathe an air perfumed, and walk 

With head upon one shoulder set, — nor heed 

Gethsemane, nor God's blood, shed for sin ! 

Oh, that with holy fear, and conscience cleansed, 

Beneath the shade and in the midnight hours, 

Oh, Saviour dear, Thy servants might abide 

With Thee, and see the load which Thou didst 

bear, — 
And weep in sorrow, pain and grief with Thee ! 

Justice exacts the penalty of sin, . 
Rendered imperative by holiness. 
And pleading ne'er can purify a soul ! 
God being just and holy must inflict 
Sin's penalty upon a soul corrupt. 
Nay, too ! the conscience stings aside from God 
And unrelentingly, eternally ! 



1 66 Mans Fall. 

Our conscience ne'er relents e'en when it feels 

The victim nigh the gates of hell shrink back 

With horror, cold with dread remorse ; nor when 

The eager fiends seize upon the soul, 

Which struggles fruitlessly within their grasp ! 

A guilty soul could not inhabit heaven, 

Where purity and sweets alone abide ! 

In earth the conscience unrelentingly 

Inflicts the penalty which sin exacts, — 

Much more when earth's attractions are removed. 

To cavil and demand a milder sentence 

Is quarrelling with what is natural, 

Ourselves as made, our soul, our native powers, 

Aside from judgment visited by heaven 

And holy God direct and merited. 

Yet God is not in suffering we endure, 

Nor we in God when cut adrift by sin. 

Tremendous deed ! man broke the golden link 
That bound him to the throne of bliss and heaven. 
No sadder thought than from an amplitude 
Of bliss man plunged into a fathomless 
Abyss of woe ! No human grasp of thought 



Mans Fall. 167 

Or sense or feeling can portray the deep, 
Enormous guilt of moral turpitude ! 

Thus earth's exquisite temple was in ruins ; 
And strife in eminence enthroned ; and man 
In whom all nature's treasured gems shone forth, 
The focus where converged was all the light 
Of bygone ages, was now ruined, fallen 
And shattered in his overthrow — all waste. 
He wronged his own soul, God-like and divine ! 

The Dragon and his black ferocious brood 
Had now a subject worthy of their skill, 
Upon whom to practice cunning subtlety 
And hellish arts, far in advance of beasts 
Noxious which pre-historic they'd possessed, — 
And capable of studied arts, refined 
To agonize with torture most intense 
And varied victims whom they'd undertake 
To follow were it possible beyond 
The grave, and render hell aglee by deeds 
Beyond its daring heaven's wrath hitherto ! 
When man was made in image like to God 



1 68 Mans Fall. 

And Eden planted, heaven then raised her throne 

Upon the earth and hell had lost her realm, — 

Within the province of Beelzebub 

War had been carried and a victory 

Gained. But now hell is victor, heaven in 

gloom — 
The first victory gained by Satan's wiles. 
No heavenly messenger on earth, it seemed 
Consigned to him alone, and solely hell's 
Domain. No wonder courage now resumed 
Its potent sway in every fiend breast ; 
And a grand jubilee, discordant, fierce, 
Malign, in honor of the event was held. 
The evil spirits had increased in lust 
Of horrid sins, had mostly lost the marks 
Of their once holy state of purity, — 
But no decrease of power though misapplied. 
'Twas now their pleasure to defy the powers 
Of heaven ; to wallow in the sinks of sin ; 
To relish seeing others' misery ; 
To do whate'er is foul, the antipodes 
Of all that's good and pleasing to the pure, — 



Mans Fall. 169 

The heights whence fallen, determining the depths 
They'd reached and active power in doing evil. 

Their jubilee ! was hell resuming sway 
More potent over elemental powers, 
The earth and sea and air, the winds and clouds. 
Long- chained in hell's abyss they'd been, because 
Evil had been in measure limited 
By Eden's peaceful reign and man created 
Holy — in place of death life substituted. 
Now unchained, being free to range the earth, 
Inflated by success, they recognized 
The power of evil, vainly thought themselves 
Sufficient to assault and conquer heaven ! 
Nothing gives promise of success more than 
Success ; and lifts the head, and air imparts 
Of self-conceit and conscious self-importance, 
Gaited in moves and patronizing words, — • 
E'en when success is gained unmerited. 
This weakness renders Devils ludicrous, — 
But earth out-herods Herod's vanity. 
When men strut with face lifted to the stars, 
And tread the ground with dainty feet and legs 



i/O Mail's Fall. 

As springs, then hell is filled with merriment, 
And shouts of laughter ring through her dun air ! 

The Scriptures tell us that Elisha's servant, 
Fearing the Syrian enemies surrounding 
Dothan, was given, through Elisha's prayer, 
To see the mountains full of heaven's heroes, 
With fire and horse, to guard and shield and save 
The prophet; company innumerable, 
A strong celestial host, then thousand times 
Ten thousand, forces called God's chariots. 
Thus were earth's mountains, plains, and seas and air, 
Now filled with fiends foul, apostates freed 
From Stygian lakes. Black clouds obscured the earth, 
Except when lurid lightnings warred with heaven's 
Artillery ; the waves of every sea 
Dashed angrily and high upon the shores ; 
Earthquakes rocked and rent every continent ; 
Volcanoes heaved their liquid fires above 
The clouds ; earth quivered to her central zones ! 
Fear palled and trembling shook the human pair. 
Tumult on earth whichever way they looked, 
And ruin everywhere — th' empyrean heights 



Mans Fall. 171 

Of heaven above the clouds alone serene. 
Reptiles and crocodiles their native streams 
And ponds deserted for the lands and groves, 
And serpents huge of seas in terror sought 
The shores. No creature having life and breath 
But sought to hide, not knowing where to flee ! * 

When subsequently, after centuries, 
Jesus, earth's Lord and Saviour, conquered hell 
Upon the Cross, and yielded up the ghost, 
Then also in like manner earth gave signs 
Of woe in sympathy with heaven foiled 
And conquered, as to it appeared, by hell 
A second time. Then holy angels too 

* The traveller Humboldt tells us, after witnessing an earthquake in 
South America, even the crocodiles ran from the River Orinoco, howling 
into the woods, the dogs and pigs were powerless with fear. The whole 
city seemed " the hearth of destruction." The houses could not shelter, 
for they were falling in ruins. He turned to the trees, but they were over- 
thrown. His next thought was to run to the mountains, but they were 
reeling like drunken men. He then looked toward the sea. Lo ! it had 
fled ; and the ships, which a few moments before were in deep water, were 
rocking on the bare sand. He tells us that being then at his wits' end, he 
looked up and observed that heaven alone was calm and unshaken. 



172 Mans Fall. 

In air with groans and sighs from clouds above, 
Addressed a navigator sailing through 
The Adrian seas, alarming all the crew, 
In words they little understood, in tones 
Of thunder : — When Palodes is reached, publish, — 
/jieyas Uav reOvrjice ! * Calm upon 
The sea their purpose foiled to disobey 
The heavenly voice when Palodes was reached. 
Then Thamus seeing heaven's intent again, 
Announced what sounded strange to every ear, 
Nor understood. When Jesus suffered death 
Hell victor seemed as first when man transgressed. 
Hence Heaven to vindicate, He in a body 
Spiritual entered Hades from the Cross 
At once ; subdued the armaments prepared 
To overrun the earth and crush the race 
Of man ; in spirit-body preached to spirits 
Which were before the flood in prison chained ; 
Confirming prophecy to their remorse ; 
Showing in flesh He had to do with man, 
In spirit with the spirits of the dead — 

* " The great God Pan is dead ! " Plutarch* s Defect of Oracles. 



Mans Fall. 173 

Was still Supreme in heaven and earth and hell ; 

Showing that hell's apparent victory 

Was its most fatal and inglorious 

Defeat ; that, though His flesh might be destroyed 

His Godhead spirit would assert itself, 

Its power, in spirit-body like their own — 

Save that with light He shone, they like the night, — 

To vex and punish them if not submiss 

To will divine, more potent than in flesh. 

'Twas needful, — hell was jubilant, — its powers 

Infernal, having failed to tempt, had moved 

Vile men to crucify the Son of God ! 

Their power, if not restrained, would render earth 

A hell in fact and sinful man more vile 

Than they, more dangerous, corrupt and cruel. 

'Twas seen in their possessing man and beast 

When given liberty, while Christ sojourned 

Below, then wholly subject to His power. 

Since God atoned for sin to save the earth, 

E'en through infernal powers, the instruments — 

The schemes of hell recoiling 'gainst itself, 

'Twas fitting now that Christ should enter hell 



174 Mans Fall. 

In might divine and chain the powers of evil, 

Restrain their liberty in large degree, 

And close the gates of their deep, dark abyss 

Upon a multitude which hitherto 

Had ranged the earth, tormented men, and sought 

To overcome God manifest in flesh. 

Hence while reflecting upon His death and near 

The Cross and finished work, He clearly said : — 

Now is the world judged and its prince cast out. 

Yet liberty to many Heaven allows, 

For wise and righteous ends to be revealed. 

Hell breathless feared beneath His righteous tread ; 
And shrank aghast before His searching eye ; 
And shook and trembled like a mighty oak 
Before a blast, when listening to His voice. 
They'd never seen the form of God in spirit 
Nature, as theirs, whose power they'd always felt ! 
He went to them, — He showed Himself alive, — 
He preached — but not the gospel news of peace, — 
Appeared their victor and their righteous Lord. 
As Noah's preaching, tears and warning voice 
Had been despised, and his despisers perished, — 



Mails Fall. 175 

'Twas fitting Christ despised and put to death 

Should go to them, and teach through them the powers 

Of hell, that judgment surely follows sin. 

His entering hell was judgment in itself 

Upon the fiends who'd battled for the world. 

As righteous Noah judgment prophesied, 

So Christ, the antitype, in Hades preached 

A second judgment upon the spirits foul, 

Who'd their own selves defeated more than Heaven 

By compassing through man His cruel death, — 

As always guilty men afflict themselves 

By crimes their own, which never fail to sting 

Themselves, more than the righteous innocent — 

For sinners are unconscious suicides ; — 

The second judgment in severity 

To be determined by their future guilt ! 

Then doubtless spirits obdurate and fierce 

From His own lips heard and expect the day, 

When earth will be a paradise reclaimed, 

And peace be conquered here by Spirit Power. 

Hence Christ in Hades preaching, no hope gives 
That finally hell's lost will be reclaimed 



176 Mans Fall. 

By satisfaction made for sin on earth. 
For simply heaven's Son asserted power 
Immaculate, and reaped the precious fruits 
Of victory for earth and sons redeemed. 

Upon the fall of man they little knew 
The mind or purpose of the Invisible. 
Hence were the fiends at the time of Christ, 
And more especially before, and most 
Before the flood malignant, active, vile — 
But alway wicked, active and malign 
Enough to fill the earth with groans, and sink 
Unwary, yielding souls into perdition ; — 
But active most where good is being done — 
No need where wickedness prevails, and men 
Already are their willing votaries. 

The evil spirit feast of jubilee 
And revelry had every fallen angel 
Convoked from every prison cell or cave 
Or grotto, cavern or abyss throughout 
Their habitations far and near, in earth 



Mans Fall. 177 

Or planets in the universe entire. 

Long time they gloated in confusion's reign ; 

In seething fires, or lurid flames, or earth's 

Dun air held carnival ; till 'gain aroused 

By Spirit Power, displayed anew and strange. 

This last, the seventh day, remains unsung, 
Which with alternate light and shade appears, 
In gloom and light, in pain and happiness, — 
Which dawned with man's appearing on the earth 
And ends with paradise, more beauteous, 
Restored to man, with bliss unknown before, 
And Man exalted to the throne of heaven ! 



BOOK IX. 

MAN REDEEMED. 

In Genesis the days commence with evening 
And end with morning, with some new advance, 
Given of Spirit Power in exercise — 
Development from lower to the higher 
Stages, which we've endeavored to portray •„ 
Each day a period whose length of time 
We neither know nor need to care to know, 
A fact in abstract quite immaterial : 
Notable, too, that- Scripture language all 
The days, in number six, embraced in one 
In words thus, — These the generations are 
Of heavens and earth created, in the day 
The Lord God made the earth and the heavens. 
The Scriptures for the seventh day — a fact 



i8o Man Redeemed. 

To be observed — records no evening to 

Commence the day, as for the others all, 

Nor morning terminating it as others. 

The order of the past is now reversed 

For this the seventh day or period, 

Commenced when morning dawned most beauteous 

With man and ends with earth destroyed by fire — 

A fact revealed to us by prophecy : 

A period continuous until 

The heavens shall roll together as a scroll, 

The elements shall melt with fervent heat, 

The sun be turned to darkness and the moori 

Into blood, and a new heaven and new earth 

Appear, and spiritual like the body 

Renewed, — when time shall pass away, be lost 

Into eternity. In confirmation 

Of prophecy astounded we've beheld 

Other worlds blaze with more than wonted light, 

Then slowly disappear — ranked 'mong lost stars : 

As that nigh Cassiopia which kindled bright 

As Sirius, then began to fade and soon 

Totally vanished, lost to the universe 



Man Redeemed. 181 

Of worlds ; or that nigh Altair rivalling 
In brilliancy e'en our sweet evening star ; 
Or one that decked Orion's lustrous group ; 
Or Scorpion's no longer lighting heaven. 
Significant fact ! winged messengers 
Of death and dissolution from the depths 
Of space confirming God's inspired word. 
To such a final doom the earth through time 
Immeasurable has steadily progressed. 

When finally shall end the era sixth, 
The last of earth, now reached and far advanced, 
Then shall begin the seventh period : — 
From conflicting elements will appear 
The earth anew and heavens luminous 
With light : — creation from the curse released 
Will then rejoice in winter past and gone ; 
In storms then o'er, the chilling blasts, the snow, 
The hail ; no thunder peals to rend the sky 
Serene, nor dense clouds to o'ershadow heaven : 
For spring forever fresh will never cease. 
The nightingale and cooing turtle-dove 
Will sing as ne'er before their notes of love. 



1 82 Man Redeemed. 

The vale of tears, bereavements, deaths belong 
To earth as once, but ne'er to reappear ! 

'Tis marvellous how history repeats 
Itself; how simple truths original 
Are, found when correspondence is observed 
Between the facts past, present and to come. 
As there are six distinct creative days 
Embraced in one creative period, — 
So we'll observe, and wondering adore 
Omniscience, that there are redemptive days, 
Notable by some - epoch or event 
Commencing and ending a period : 
The number six of eras most distinct, 
And all embraced in one redemptive day, 
The day for gladdened jubilee, when God 
Had ended all His works which He had made. 
In it embraced are all the previous germs 
Which in their day developed and decayed ; 
But far advanced is this since conscience reigns, - 
Superinduced supreme in spirit life. 
This the hallowed Sabbath for man to advance 
In holiness, attain a happier seat, 



Man Redeemed. 18 

Drink fuller than the joys of Paradise. 

Fallen man redeemed and glorified to sit 

In heavenly places with the atoning Lamb 

Of God, oh, who'd dare venture such a thought, 

Were't not revealed to man in Holy Writ — 

A vision beatific of heaven's rest ! 

Hence unity organic here prevails, 
Development controlled by Spirit Power, 
And energized as in creative work : 
One thought and purpose running through the whole ; 
One scarlet thread that binds the epochs, each 
To each ; one chain, the links indissoluble, 
Which binds the earth to heaven and the universe ; 
One hand, discerned by only those who'll see, 
That ever points unwavering to — The Cross, 
As every new development in six 
Creative days, prepare and render better 
Fitted the earth for man, to whom they point. 
This simplifies and gives a mighty grasp 
Upon all truth whate'er is worth our pains 
To learn or know ; takes elevated points 
Of view, and gives a range of vision vast, — 



184 Man Redeemed. 

Far in extent as is the universe, — 

The past and future, — all that was and is 

And is to come for earth, and man and angel — 

The finite most allies to infinite : 

As from a mountain peak, exceeding great 

And high, we see a landscape beautiful 

And large, extending far, but seen in one 

View, panoramic, lying at our feet. 

To render truth complex, misty, confused 

Requires but little brain, or none at all, 

And error oftener indicates than truth. 

To simplify and render few the truths 

Revealed in life, the world and universe 

Is the office of mind both of man and angel. 

One theme by angel tongues was now discussed : — 
Will God abandon to the powers of hell 
This new created world, one empire more 
Added to increase their strength where they may range 
And rule, insulting His omnipotence ? 
Will He endure to have the fiends obscure 
His glory, sole end and aim of all His works, — 



Man Redeemed. 185 

And thus be thwarted by the powers of hell ? 

His all-sufficiency is adequate 
To meet whatever crisis may occur 
In His vast realms, in earth or heaven or hell. 
E'en warring fiends' wrath, from the abyss, 
He mabes to praise His Majesty, and more 
Firmly to establish His eternal throne. 
The end He seeth of all the universe 
Of matter and intelligence, ere first 
Beginning was to e'en a star in space. 
Alone in the awful silence of the past 
Eternity, appalling His abode, 
He all nature contemplated synthetic 
And co-existent. When He ordered time 
Began to every world throughout the vast 
Immensity, the arena where He works 
Progressively, that creature minds may grow, 
Expand, be glorified in apprehending 
The mighty God, Creator of all things. 

The era which began with man created 
Holy, dawned luminously upon the earth, 



i86 Man Redeemed. 

And was the first of this redemptive day. 
His fall commenced to draw the evening shades ■ 
Around the world and mantled all in gloom, 
Which darker grew until the era ends. 

Amid each era's darkest hour light breaks 
Forth in meridian day — in noonday splendor, • 
By Power Supreme, advancing something new, 
More perfect, looking to maturity, — 
To issue ultimately in the glow 

Of Heaven, when clouds shall 'all have passed away. 
'Tis thus with every Christian life upon earth : 
Day dawns when darkest clouds eclipse our path — 
In hours of sorrow, pain or death — when all 
Seems dark, the heart faint, sinking in despair ! 
Then oftenest power divine relief bestows. 
They're wheels within a wheel, which illustrate, 
Shed light upon, make clear a mighty truth ! 

Adam and Eve reclining in the cool 
Of day out in the open firmament, 
Now heard Jehovah's voice, as from a dream 
Awaked, and fearing hid among the Garden's 



Man Redeemed. 187 

Foliage, hoping thus their guilt to hide. 

Thus guilty conscience ever since has done- 

In efforts to conceal reveals her guilt. 

What wing so swift as to elude the eye 

Of God and lurk unknown beyond the sky ? 

For all within the air or heaven abides, 

Or even if beyond the bounds of space, 

Are nigh and open to His piercing sight ! 

The voice called, and they came, — not blithe, 

Joyful and gay as wont to meet their Lord, 

But sad, reluctant and with faltering step, 

And began to excuse their nakedness 

In plea for hiding. Then their Lord inquired, 

How they'd obtained this knowledge, — whether they'd 

Transgressed and tasted the forbidden fruit ? 

Adam confessed his guilt — too evident ; 

A guilt which bore already fruit of shame, — 

For coward he'd become — accused his wife — 

The lovely Eve, heaven's gift, — for whom before 

He'd suffer death : and she the serpent's guile. 

Whereupon hearing this, the Lord pronounced 

The serpent cursed above all beasts, because 



1 88 Man Redeemed. 

The instrument of Satan's wiles, and added : 
Between thee and the woman enmity- 
Exists henceforth, and between thine and her seed 
It thy head shall bruise, thou shalt bruise his heel. 

Thus was announced a prophecy, the germ 
And sum developed since in history : 
So is the oak entire in the acorn hid. 
God's purpose to redeem the world was thus 
And now revealed — the first display of grace 
The universe had known— the advance of force 
And penalty which devils had endured, 
And will endure eternally, so far 
As known. Without renouncing royalty 
Divine, nor silencing the thunder peals 
Of wrath 'gainst sin, revealed in law enforced — ■ 
Exhibited in might and fittingly 
Upon Sinai when to Israel law was given — 
God's voice in love and mercy spake in words 
Of cheer, and lighted all the gloom of Eden, 
And echoed sweetly in man's heart depraved. 
In meekness suffering wrong, while love illumes 
The countenance, and with forgiving grace 



Man Redeemed. 189 

Beams sweetly upon the hands which cruelly 

Afflict, malignant spirits least endure, 

Whether they're wicked men or ugly devils. 

The letter kills, but spirit giveth life — 

A maxim having application far 

And wide, not simply to the spiritual, — 

But natural, for sweetest earthly life 

Is love unfeigned in all its purity : — 

The law enforced destroys, but love redeems. 

This to the human pair was cheering news, 

Like the anchor to mariners tempest-tossed 

Nearing rocks and shoals, and grim death at hand. 

This still small voice of love Elijah heard 
When hunted by the wicked Jezebel. 
In Horeb's deep recesses hidden, neither 
A blast of wind that rent and brake the rocks, 
Nor an earthquake that rocked the mount as waves 
A vessel in a storm, nor liquid fire 
That glowed and ran in streams throughout the mount 
Moved him. But when the voice of God was heard, 
With mantle wrapped about his face, he went 
And reverent stood to learn and heed heaven's message. 



190 Man Redeemed. 

Oh, sweet still voice ! Here is Jehovah's mild 
And radiant presence felt more than His power 
Or wisdom or benevolence. 'Tis love 
Revealed to guilty man, a voice that grew 
In accents clear and more distinct since first 
Both Adam and Eve heard the promise given 
Until Immanuel came, the Second Adam, 
To restore our fallen and rebellious race. 

When 'gainst the serpent was pronounced the curse, 
The Lord turned to the human pair. First Eve, 
Because the first in sin, and through the mother 
Her daughters since were sentenced to endure 
Great pains in childbearing, and her desire 
Subject to the husband's, who should o'er her rule. 
The ruling savors of our fallen state : 
The more a husband rules, makes manifest 
Authority over his loving wife, 
The more he proves himself an imbecile, 
Or Satan's kin, allied to him in fact, 
Applying to his kind the curse imposed 
Too readily, who ought himself be ruled ! 
For Adam's sake the ground was cursed : with toil, 



Man Redeemed. 191 

Sorrow and in pain bread should be produced. 
Though so symmetrical in beauty, death's 
Warrant was added, — doomed like noxious beasts 
His body must die and return to dust. 
Anticipating death, which none can know 
But once, how terrible must it have seemed, 
Which daily met his eye on every side ; 
And fear must have possessed his soul ! The life 
However of the soul could ne'er become 
■Extinct, though all the chilling waves of sin 
From hell should roll their hideous billows o'er it. 
Hence doubtless Enoch from the pains of death 
Was saved, because in purity of heart 
He walked with God : occurring in this era, 
Which does not terminate until the flood. 

The Judge and Saviour of mankind thus brought 
His present mission to a close, and quick 
As thought the farthest stars were reached, His time 
Of flight unmeasured, distance great or small 
Alike to Him, for infinite Himself, — 
And only known when He Himself reveals 



192 Man Redeemed. 

To heaven or earth or hell, or man or angel — 
Without a body limited to space, 
As yet, of either flesh or spirit form,— 
Except assumed for temporary use, 
A form in semblance like to man or angel, — • 
From elements, which the Almighty power 
Can fashion into any image willed. 
Hence often He appeared in human form, 
And just as quickly vanished as thin air. 
Not marvellous if Spirit Power who gave 
The elements their Being and who forms 
Them into everything we see and know, 
Should take therefrom and fashion any form 
In which to act and compass His designs. 

To angels now 'twas known that man was saved. 
To earth with one accord they turned their gaze. 
In Paradise the human pair there still 
•They saw, and breathless admiration, love 
And wonder stilled each throbbing heart, and heaven 
Was still as when man's sad fall was announced. 
No sound save streams pellucid rolling through 



Man Redeemed. 193 

.The ivory palaces in murmurings sweet 
Was heard : such silence brought from sudden joy, 
And inexpressible, hearts cannot long 
Endure in quietude. Their gushing souls 
O'erflowing with love soon found vent in tears. 
Unlike before when man fell, they now wept 
For very joy— as angels weep — a joy 
Such as alone heaven feels, all peaceful, mild, 
Serene. Oh ! the consummate joy of Heaven ! 
Comparatively we are ignorant 
As yet of the redeemed and Holy City, 
Though prophets wrote inspired. Nor Seraph's tongue 
Can Heaven portray to man : — a language spoken 
There unintelligible below the skies. 
Oh, Holy City, everlasting realms 
Of bliss, our paradise of love restored, 
Beautified, how thy glorious beams enwrap 
Our minds when nearing thy celestial heights ; 
When zephyrs odoriferous fan our brow 
Sweating from weary toil ; when songs are heard 
Produced by angels joining saints in praise ! 
There our beloved departed, thrilled with joy, 



194 Man Redeemed; 

Shall our first entrance see and rush to meet 
Our fond embrace — our coming long delayed 
To eager eyes upon heaven's battlements ! 

How wonderful is power Omnipotent 
In matter first revealed — the elements, 
The frame and body of the earth and stars ; 
In life, succeeding next, of trees and plants 
And flowers — which moulds and beautifies the first, 
To utilize and to adorn the earth ; 
In spirit, next succeeding, which discerns 
Itself, enjoys its life and acts at will ; 
In conscience next, engraft in spirit life, 
Which ministers supreme a heavenly bliss ; 
In sin, — which dares the conscience to inflict 
Its penalties and violates its laws, 
The laws of spirit when advanced to know 
The right from wrong, and independent acts. 
The conscience when inviolate is day, 
And sinned against is night in spirit worlds ! 
Redemption next, the power and grace of God — 
Power infinite, grace marvellous and new, 



Man Redeemed. 195 

Of Heaven's King to save a creature in 

His image made, from spirit shades and death ; 

Then glory follows next and last, as day 

The rising sun, the seventh wonder in 

The galaxy, both grand and luminous, 

For time, eternity, the world and Heaven ! 

To learn this new thing in the universe 
Of wonders, how God though just can redeem 
A creature fallen, now hence employs the minds 
Angelic, from the bud of promise given 
Until mature : upon each development 
They sweetly talk together face to face 
By twos or companies in heaven's vast plains, 
A mighty host, and wonder and adore. 
How conscience waked, illumed both here and more 
Hereafter by heaven's light and purity, 
Can cease to torture is a mystery — 
Sleeping for future ages to reveal ! 
'Tis easier to understand how God 
Forgives and saves, than that the soul can cease 
To chide, afflict and torture its own self 



196 Man Redeemed. 

For violence against itself in sin ! 

The conscience knows no mercy ; hears no voice 

Of grief; is like the adder closing the ear 

Against the charmers charming ne'er so wisely. 

Heaven fain would heed the prayer which conscience 

spurns. 
Thus light is shed upon the affecting scene 
Of Jesus weeping o'er Jerusalem — 
Heaven weeping o'er the nature that repels 
Its proffered love and touching sympathy ! 

A further work remained. Man could not long 
In Eden nigh the tree of life remain : 
For now the interdicted tree ; its fruit 
For holiness and life was forfeited. 
Death follows sin by nature's laws and will 
Divine. Man's readiness his Maker's voice 
To disobey foreseen. Now lest he also 
Take of the tree of life and eat and live 
Forever — vile, corrupt, depraved and foul, 
Body and soul — God in love intervened. 

From all intelligences, cherubim 



Man Redeemed. 197 

And seraphim, and angels both of death 

And life, and from a host innumerable 

God chose His ministers ; to each a work 

Assigned. Their mission known, equipped with 

power 
Derived, they with their King descended straight 
To earth, an armament imposing, grand 
And irresistible. The Lord then drave 
The man from Paradise, and at the east 
Of Eden in the garden placed the dire 
Cherubim with a flaming sword, which all 
Approach cut off and guarded every way 
Direct or winding to the tree of life. 
Thus Adam was denied the taste or touch 
Of what was once his food ambrosial — such 
As heaven ministers to spirit life. 

The angels clothed with terror's ghastly robe, 
And having in their hands the arrows barbed 
With death, their stand resumed upon the earth. 
These angels evil have power over man 
To torment him with storms and chilling winds, 
Producing sickness, pain and dire distress. 



198 Man Redeemed. 

Thus Satan was given power over Job 

1 
To sweep away his princely wealth and leave 

Him poor as when he came into the world, 

To afflict and destroy his family, 

And render sick and sore and vile his flesh. 

Thus chastened often are we for rest when storms 

Are o'er and shadows shall have fled away. 

Thus evil angels, alway unconsciously, 

Are heaven's messengers for final good. 

Afflictions thus are blessings in disguise. 

The soul sustained by Hand imperial 

Reposes childlike in the arms divine, 

Which ever round His sons beloved are thrown, 

Though sore emotions struggle in the breast. 

The angels with sweet cordial from the fount 

Of life then too assumed their ministry : 

O'erburdened hearts allaying with the oil 

Of gladness ; carrying the stream of life 

Unbroken, clearer, brighter through the wreck 

Of our fallen race with types and prophecies — 

Though not then fully understood — and giving 

Hope, cheer and gladness ; oft a human form 



Man Redeemed. 199 

Assuming radiant in their holiness, 

To speak with man and utter words of peace 

And comfort, and the future joy reveal. 

With tender wakefulness they bend their gaze, 

Their wings outstretched, upon the earth and man, 

Hovering always near, solicitous 

For those committed to their sacred trust. 

Undazzled by the scenery of heaven, 

Its grandeur, beauty or its wealth, they cast 

Benignant, loving looks upon the sons 

And daughters of the earth to bless and save. 

From Paradise the human pair were driven 
In order to effect a good : — to save 
The pure from harlotry with the impure, 
The good from coalescing with the evil. 
Heaven for hell has no affinity : 
Yet hell's design and effort is to get 
Within the gates of heaven and subdue 
The good and pure to her foul purposes. 
'Tis hell's most artful and successful mode 
Of warfare 'gainst what's good in earth and heaven. 



200 Man Redeemed. 

When done the knell to peace and happiness 
Is tolled, as when the serpent entered Eden. 

Disaster comes and never fails to come 
When Satan makes inroads into the church : 
The church becoming then so dangerous 
And foul and cruel as to shock the world. 
Nor does a shock e'er fail in such a case 
Less than earthquake fires warring fiercely 'neath 
The surface of our globe to toss and rend 
A continent and trouble isles and seas. 
A vessel rides securely every sea, — 
Until the waters get within — then sinks 
O'erpowered by that which erst she tossed aside, 
Or proudly used to reach a distant haven. 
'Tis Satan's pleasing argument which fools 
And knaves employ, too often in God's name, — 
The world must be impressed and won, and sin 
Subdued and sinners saved by coalescing 
Therewith in some degree, conformity 
A trifle, innocent to patronize, 
Propitiate and take the world by guile ! 



Man Redeemed. 201 

The church, thus duped and self-deceived, is like 
A silly toad that gives itself away 
And hops into a hungry serpent's maw. 
A church, God's children using subtlety, 
Unskilled in handling weapons of the pit, 
Deserve and surely come to woful grief! 
In modern times church fairs and festivals 
And concerts, feasts and lotteries devised 
'Tis said to run the church — but to the Devil / 
A sin substantially which brought the flood 
And every overthrow the world has seen. 
But 'tis the sure road to prosperity — 
Short-lived, but this is seen, alas ! too late; 
To wealth and rich adornments such as please 
The world — and Satan too : he helps the church 
More than his devotees allied to him 
In faith and works belonging to the world — 
In evil faith and works are ne'er divorced, 
When pious frauds, concerts, theatricals 
Are introduced in houses consecrated — 
O mockery ! to God for prayer and praise ; 
And hinders not the battle, only seeming 



202 Man Redeemed. 

Against his kingdom, and the while deludes. 

'Tis then like Samson in Delilah's lap, 

Shorn of its strength while dandled into dreams : — 

Then Satan laughs and hell is all aglee : 

For churches spirit power possess for good 

In naught but what is holy, right and true. 

The Upper Room, but poor and lone and drear 
'Mid Salem's palaces of wealth and towers 
Of strength, where sorrowing disciples prayed 
In solitude, is to. the church a Fount 
Of blessing, a well-spring of light to each 
Succeeding age, to teach how best — nay ! how 
Alone to reach the heights of heavenly bliss, 
The source of every good — unfailing power, 
And bring a blessing down to barren earth ! 
The earth still feels the power whjch emanates 
Therefrom, still cherishes the gifts bestowed 
Upon that most eventful night the world 
Has seen or felt, still hears as every age 
Has heard the tongues which there became inspired. 
Oh, Mighty Spirit, Presence Infinite, 
All Heaven is illumed and brightly glows 



Man Redeemed. 203 

With Thy most tranquil beauty, grace and love, 
Oh ! come to earth again, to praying saints 
As in the Upper Room, renowned, and show 
From heaven's ethereal shores Thy wealth of love ; 
Make guilty earth to tremble with Thy blasts, 
And with Thy tempest power brake stony hearts ! 
O Spirit ! hover o'er us — dead to Thee, 
And suddenly brake cloven tongues of flame 
Upon our heads — a light from Heaven to earth — 
A flame from holy altars given to man, 
And quicken us into a life and power 
Akin to Thine — the only power that saves, 
Either the church, the world, or human souls ! 
Oh, tender Spirit ! live and breathe within 
The church ; oh, loving Presence, sweet beyond 
Our thought, abide with us, and let us see 
Thy glance of love and Heaven in that glance ! 
The Upper Room reveals a church in shade 
Or light, with spirit power for ill or good ! 

After man's fall the righteous coalesced 
With the wicked, dissolute and carnal, — looked 



204 Man Redeemed. 

Upon the daughters of the world and took 

Them wives of all the fair and beautiful : 

The sons of Seth with daughters fair of Cain ! 

Dark clouds conceal from view this period, 

And little can we penetrate behind 

The scenes. But this much clearly we discern 

From Scripture, that the church in harlotry 

With man and devils, fused the good and evil, — 

Became thus secularized and corrupt. 

The good amalgamated with the bad. 

Hence lust soon soiled, befouled and sank the 

church 
In sin which God not long could tolerate, 
Inducing Him to bring the flood upon 
The earth : which ends this era of the world's 
History on the first redemptive day. 
In gloom and night and death each era ends 
Because the church joins sacrilegiously 
And is at one with schemes and wickedness 
Resorted to and practised by the world ! 
No sin more grieves the loving heart of God 
And surely brings disaster, pain and death. 



Man . Redeemed. 205 

While Noah safely sailed the one vast sea 
Above the deluged world and sleeping dead, 
Alone saved with his family, then dawned 
The second era of man's history. 
The righteous preacher, faithful, true, devout, 
Who for more than a century withstood 
The taunts of dissolute and wicked men ; 
Undaunted by their threats ; unmoved by jeers ; 
And undiscouraged labored on, though all 
A deaf ear to his faithful message gave, 
Was reaping now his rich well-earned reward. 

Not less a lesson here than a rebuke 
Is given to all who estimate the worth, 
Capacity and fitness for the task 
Of preaching by the measure of success, 
So called, to be reported and extolled — 
But piously in tone befitting saints, 
Each year in presbytery and in print. 
David's great sin of numbering the people, 
Through pride, and suffering in consequence 



206 Man Redeemed. 

A plague, some pastors reckless, false to trust, 
Forget, — or else expound to suit the times. 
Tis called, Reports upon religious state 
Of churches.* The intent is doubtless good, 



* Withheld Statistics. — How it would startle some of our congre- 
gations to have the pastor follow the reading of the annual report of his 
church with a few of the withheld statistics, somewhat after this sort : — 
" Of the thirty-two who have joined our church the past year I find that 
five of those who came in on profession have unmistakably fallen into for- 
mer evil ways, while of those who were received by letter three were cer- 
tainly lacking in good character in the churches they left, although by the 
record they were in 'good and regular standing.' One of our elders is 
popularly reported to have swindled a neighbor outrageously in a notorious 
business transaction. We have lost one of our more prominent members 
by his transfer to the county jail on conviction of crime. A careful exami- 
nation of our record has convinced me that fully one- third of our members 
can be counted on the ' dead-head ' list. They do nothing in the line of 
Christian activity. As to their example, they are not bad enough to be a 
warning to the outside world, nor good enough to be taken as an example 
by anybody — in or out. Our benevolent contributions look pretty well for 
our numbers, but I learn that nearly one-third of their full amount has 
been given by four persons ; and that of the other members of the church 
more than one-half gave less to religious causes than they pay toward public 
amusements, while there are not a few families which gave more for peanuts 
during the year than they put in the contribution box. A fair estimate of 
the tobacco bills of the congregation is twice and three-eighths the amount 
given by the church to home and foreign missions combined." Such a supple- 
ment as this, in kind and in degree according to the particular community, 
could be truthfully made in many a church where the annual report last pre- 
sented is spoken of as " every way encouraging." — Sunday- School Times. 



Man Redeemed. * 207 

But many, snared thereby, report themselves, 

Relate too often only partial facts, 

Adroitly hide whate'er is damaging, 

And brethren praise who'll in return praise them — 

A mutual admiration feast, in love 

Each one with self, absorbed in greed of praise ; 

A vanity fair — bart'ring each the others — 

And silly they fail to discern when sold, 

For spirit power just then is stupefied 

By glittering bombast and flattery. 

While scepticism abounds and churches die, 

And piety is low and at discount 

Is this for puerile compliments the time, — 

Not less obsequious than footmen serve? 

Itching ears listen while proud hearts relate 

The numbers added to their church, converted 

The pastors say, for which they're truly thankful — 

To build themselves upon the work they've done ! 

They err who judge the Lord by feeble saints ! 

And much, alas ! the issue proves is only 

Man's work : but what's the odds ? Conventions hear, 

Applaud, assign to fat and wealthy fields 



208 Man Redeemed. 

The boasters lusting for the loaves and fishes. 

Hypocrisy ! that's robed in pious terms ! 

The bravest, best and faithful witnesses 

Who're either modest or unfortunately 

Too good and conscientious to conform 

To tendencies that both corrupt the church 

And shame its true ambassadors, are either 

Silenced or given places poor and lone — 

Good for the churches served, but bad for them ! 

They're failures in ecclesiastical 

Politics, have demurred upon artifice : 

They've not exalted self, nor sought for place 

In lines of sure promotion, seeking fame, 

And wealth and ease and elegance, and none 

Will do it for them, — nor discern their worth ! 

By them a pyrotechnical display 

Has not been given — in religious news, 

Weekly ; nor have they editors cajoled 

To keep their names with puffs before the churches. 

Hence forest parishes, or any place 

Is deemed by brethren (!) good enough for them :- 

And then the while each one is estimated 



Man Redeemed. 209 

By places occupied — gauged by their wealth : 

No matter how obtained — 'tis immaterial, 

And none would venture rashly to inquire — 

Of course 'tis Providence, whose guidance each 

Has sought, 'tis said, to indicate their duty. 

Hypocrisy will hide her face for once 

And blush, and know and feel herself outdone ! 

Hence many a pure and faithful minister 

Unknown, uncared for, soon forgotten dies 

In poverty, of whom the world's unworthy : — 

Their cries and moans voiced by the plaintive winds ; 

And solitudes and glens and caves alone 

In sympathy give ear and weep responsive ! 

They're blessed, passive, patient poor, who're loved^ 
Of Heaven, despised of earth, — whose secret lives 
Are deep and understood by few, — who stoop 
Beneath the cares of life with fettered feet 
And listless, wrapped in deep, but silent thought ; 
And homeless, shuffled here and there, alone 
Within a world which has no love for them, 
No sympathy — and deemed but in the way : — 
Perhaps the meek and chastened smile that comes 



210 Man Redeemed. 

And goes, is God within the friendless soul ; — 
Perhaps the light which now and then illumes 
Their brow, and shines from wan and wasted cheeks 
Is from the angels hovering both near 
And o'er their heads, which baffle mortal sight, 
But waiting, wings outspread, to waft their charge 
To blissful realms when death appears and severs 
Gently their spirit from the earth and clay ! 
The soul by sorrow's chastening touch becomes 
Too pure for earth to know or see or love ; 
So lovely shines, so sweetly beams, that earth 
And sin their face avert and turn aside ! - 
Perhaps ! alone in barren Patmos isle, 
Exiled in place and state, there's vision given 
As glorious as but once beheld, — hence sight 
Becomes impaired to earthly things and dim, 
While spirit is absorbed by bliss revealed, — 
Which earth esteems defects, and riots o'er, 
And quickly shuffles them to solitudes 
And barrenness, as was the Apostle John ! 

Such prophets, learned in theologic lore, — 
Such Christians, mellowed meek in love with God, — 



Man Redeemed. 2 1 1 

Such servants, freighted with experience, — 

The church too often deems superannuated : 

And lusts and lisps for sophomoric lore, — 

For brazen declamation, loud in cry 

And boisterous as infantile in thought, — 

For lightly freighted crafts to sail smooth seas — 

From parent's tutelage removed too soon, 

Which wreck themselves and crew ere port is reached ! 

Soul ne'er becomes impaired by age, and ne'er 
Loses what's once been learned, nor ever less 
Of power or force exerts when circumstanced 
To act in normal strength, though brain may palsy, 
Become impaired and feeble like the body. 
The spirit form assumed in blissful realms, 
Rejuvenated, it will act with more 
Than wonted strength, and have an instrument 
Through which to act which never will impair. 
The young divines who're humble and sincere, 
Without ambition to exalt themselves, 
Who pray to serve the poor and sorrowing, 
Who're learned and well equipped to serve the church, 
Are heaven's best gift, a legacy of love 



212 



Man Redeemed. 



To earth and churches seeking help from God, — 
Noble men, reaping precious fruit for Heaven — 
Who'll nobler be when bending 'neath the weight 
Of years of toil while grace illumes their brow. 

Severe denunciations hurled against 
Any who serve at sacred altars, holy, 
Howe'er just, modern thinkers deem unkind, — 
Unfriendly to the church our Saviour bought. 
But what if they're against the evils, rank 
And sore, which left unchecked would soon destroy 
The church and world, blood bought by love divine ? 
The surgeon's knife will sever quivering limbs 
Diseased, regardless of the patient's cries 
And tears, and yet in love his task perform ! 
The church can ne'er with safety to the world, 
Herself or men in witness-bearing fail, 
In equity and truth come short in service, 
Through fear or policy ignore a wrong, 
And hence herself must be and keep most pure ; 
As salt kept savory and light unquenched ; 
Be vigilant and more concerned to quench 



Man Redeemed. 213 

Evils which are within than those without. 

Hereby are known Earth's righteous noblemen. 

'Tis hatred of impurity that hurls 

And renders true the darts to pierce the shields. 

Whate'er is human may become impure, 

Or err or fail in duty that's imposed. 

Darts damage not through human agency 

The spirit pure, what's holy or divine. 

The church which God has saved, protects and loves 

Is not a bauble gilded for the eye 

Of sense and glittering in borrowed light, 

A toy of every wanton breeze in air 

And ready momentarily by touch 

Or rank breath to collapse- and disappear ! 

The world detracts where saints conceal a guilt. 

But honesty in churches strength imparts, 

Though many for fidelity endure 

And suffer patiently for years in quiet. 

If we would judge ourselves, we'd not be judged. 

But all can see where much applies, applaud 

And guilt adjudge to others, not to self. 

Alas ! there's guilt attached to not a few . 



214 Man Redeemed. 

Where churches wane and guilt supinely yawns 
With folded hands and groans and ask the cause ! 

The question paramount is, whether good 
Or evil dominates. Tis not against 
The good and pure and holy in the church 
To hear that many learned and noble men, 
Servants of God, are in obscurity 
Suffering from neglect and wrong of which 
The church is chargeable and piety 
Is made to blush ! Should Truth with visage bright 
Sublimely stand with eyes ot fire and speak 
In plainness, multitudes in places rich 
And well intrenched would howl against the rash 
Intruder 'pon their realm of elegance — 
Bereft of Spirit Power and shorn of strength — 
And count him sore ; one who has failed to please — 
A worldly church and young effeminates ; 
One who has enemies — a sycophant 
Would be preferred by such who're worldly wise ; 
A churlish fellow — published such as by 
A dunghill feathered tribe, because forsooth 
He treads too near a setting hen, alarms 



Man Redeemed. 215 

Her henship and awakes her cackling ire, — 
In which the harem join and sympathize. 

The temper of our speech is moderate. 
Zion, her daughters, sons and citizens 
Should lovingly protect, adorn and bless, 
And spread a halo glory round the earth, 
Encompassing and filling every place 
And heart — than Saturn's rings more beauteous. 
Unseemly hence for her to maledict, 
Or taunt or curse when evils are exposed 
That tarnish, dim or hide her glory fair ; 
Detract or anger, goad or persecute 
When called upon to heal her blemishes — 
But thus unwittingly proclaims abroad, 
Aloud, then evident if not before, 

Her conscious guilt and shame, through pride concealed ! 
Her face so beautiful in purity 
Henceforth and then becomes repulsive, dark 
And low'ring, ugly, wrathful, dangerous, — 
Like maidens fair defloured by hateful ire. 
'Tis Zion's loving office tenderly 
To soothe and heal a burdened, broken heart ; 



216 Man Redeemed. 

To lift the fallen, cheer the faint and help 

Our sinful race to realms of bliss and Heaven. 

A church and clergy arrogant are base. 

A fellow pilgrim, with averted face 

To pass disdainfully and mock his cries, 

Is spirit finite power in exercise 

For ill and hateful to the good and pure, — 

Is spirit fiendish and not of Zion ! 

To plead the cause and battle for the poor 

And sorrowing in need is Zion's office, 

Whereby spirit power best promotes earth's glory. 

'Tis feared and felt that Agencies are too 
Solicitous to credit with success 
Their schemes, sustain fat salaries and chairs, 
And build themselves upon their enterprises. 
We've advertised a dearth of ministers, — 
While multitudes are unemployed, prepared 
And willing, nay ! solicitous for work ; 
And seminaries to theology 
Sacred, with others like employed compete — 
Unseemly and unchurchly is the strife, 



Man Redeemed. 217 

Each for itself alluring aspirants 

For ministerial robes within their walls, 

By scholarships and money to entice 

Proportioned by the wealth that each controls ; 

And men renowned and usefully employed 

In other less inviting fields, are called 

To chairs regardless of the hurt inflicted, — 

For called, the voice — of God, 'tis said — of self 

Aggrandizement, 'tis feared — determines choice 

Too often not less in church than in the State ; — ■ 

Who may the proper sentiments possess, 

In charity to their intelligence 

We'll urge, but simply their expression hide, 

Repress, as sorrow's hid at times by some 

When keenly, pungently 'tis felt and weeps 

Within, behind the scenes in solitude : 

Some will presume to think, sometimes aloud, — 

And for themselves without the aid of others. 

We're told 'tis all to glorify the church. 

Alas ! the glory of the Agencies 

Are neither modestly concealed nor named ! 

Their spirit power is thus concealed or lost. 



2 1 8* Man Redeemed. 

And Colleges too founded for the church 
By righteous men of old, in prayer and tears, 
A worthy ministry to educate, — 
Not little puerile vanity display 
In graduating sons with great eclat, 
With sound of cornet, flute and psaltery, 
And sackbut, harp and dulcimer, — inviting 
All to adore the Image that's set up ! — 
And cringe and fawn beneath the feet of wealth, 
And kiss the hands whence rich endowments come ! 
Too often sceptics, who're called scientists, 
Are given chairs, and clergymen who're good 
And wise refused, when to the church they owe 
Life and prosperity — waxed gross by wealth, 
In foreign arrogance — to Satan sold ! — 
And innocently inquire, — why now so few 
The ministry, the sacred office enter? 
Their understanding or the sacred word 
If they'd consult, and turn aside one brief 
Moment from vain imaginings, they'd know 
The truth and render service to the world. 
A wonder justly ought to be expressed 



Man Redeemed. 219 

If any should religiously inclined 
Become, and enter e'en the sacred church 
In fellowship with saints from Satan saved ! 

In culture intellectual history * 
Records no ministry the world has seen 
So learned, eloquent and strong for great 
Achievements. Danger lurks in pride of heart. 
The baser metals burnishing will ne'er 
Transform to precious : culture exercised 
With zeal will only help, can ne'er produce 
A man of God, or render pure the heart. 



* " It is the sure indication of a living Christianity that so many of its 
preachers are drawn from the most successful men in other walks of life. 
They could not be at peace or feel themselves to be obedient to the heav- 
enly vision until they had accepted the sacred vow and ordination. An 
elect ministry like this, called to be apostles by the will of God and by the 
resistless yearnings of the Spirit of God within them, were never more 
needed than to-day, and all others were never more out of place. Of good 
men, and good lives, and good service the church and the world can never 
have too many. But there is nothing gained and much lost in thrusting 
men merely because they are good, or accepting them merely because they 
are willing, into this high calling of God. God wants something more 
than pegs to fill 'vacancies.' He demands projectiles, with His own 
Divine Forces behind them, mighty through God to the pulling down of 
strongholds." 



2 20 Man Redeemed. 

Their learning rightly guided, humble, pure, 

Beneath their strokes would Satan's kingdom totter 

And doubtless fall. Among them found are men 

Who're great and good and pure in heart, who love 

The church, and cheerfully would sacrifice 

Their all and life itself to testify 

Their faith, if 'twere required for the truth. 

Hence tendencies which render insecure, 

The weaknesses endangering the church 

Most readily the church will rectify 

When clearly by the wise and good exposed, 

If purity therein predominates. 

A bridge no stronger is than the weakest link 

Which with the others holds its ponderous weight. 

Where'er a danger is, fidelity, 

Learning, experience or art detect, 

Expose and deem both the security 

Of structure and the lives of multitudes 

Of greater moment, incomparable, 

Than shielding men in charge from merited 

Censure, displacement, or e'en sacrifice. 

Thus is the glory of the church by clouds 



Man Redeemed. 221 

Often o'ercast, as evening follows morn, 
As shade succeeds the light in every era, 
Showing that perfect happiness the earth 
Forbids to man, and perfect beauty too. 
But greater light has always followed gloom, 
And brighter eras from those more obscure, — 
Developed from imperfect traits — for nought 
Is perfect here, as clouds obscuring light 
Collect and part to let the sun shine through — 
Brighter than had the clouds not intervened. 
Man's duty hence is clear, — to labor on 
In faith and prayer and love, and ne'er forget 
That Spirit Power is high enthroned above 
The petty powers, unfriendly to the church, 
Or ills which unawares do creep therein ; 
That earth is moving to elysian fields, 
And gloom or death is but transition state. 
By battling for what's pure we best promote 
Our strength — prepare the soul for higher life. 
Happy the men who're foremost in the strife, 
And recognize beneficence in ills 
Which call in exercise their spirit power, — 



222 Man Redeemed. 

Who scorn to cringe, prefer to die than yield 
To wealth and arrogance, which adder like, 
Possess the fang and poison too that kills ! 

We need not only desolation see ; 
We need not wander walled in darkness round, — 
And ne'er within and ne'er without see light, 
As bondsmen boast their chains, and scoff at love 
That fain would scatter clouds or set them free. 
Who have the light should make it brighter glow ; 
And faith make greater — cultivate to sight, 
To sweetest worship — into splendors hide ; 
In plainness chide where wrongs are known, but love- 
The glow of Heaven, illuming every word ! 

As Noah reaped a harvest long delayed, 
So faithful labor ultimately brings 
Reward in this — or in the world to come. 
Many are true and faithful, mourning o'er 
Evils they're powerless to eradicate, — 
Nay ! multitudes to duty as discerned, 
According to the light possessed are true. 
Pastors, in being too solicitous 



Man Redeemed. 223 

About success or seeming failure, err. 
With measured step and stooping low in grief 
And sorrow, judgment Noah preached, without 
Design or ill intent, and none would hear 
Or turn to God and seek the peace of Heaven. 
Yet he and family were blessed and saved. 
Man e'en the judge and churches carnalized, 
Fidelity is better than success. 

This era dawns as did the first with promise. 
The beautiful rainbow arching the heavens 
Over the sweet but lately deluged earth, 
Of Heaven's covenant a fitting sign, 
Which often Noah had admired before, 
Was now of God designed and pointed out 
The sign of promise for all future time, 
That every generation following 
When looking 'pon the bow within the clouds 
Might realize that God is merciful, — 
That it encircles too His great white throne ! 

The era wanes when Noah's family 
Had multiplied upon the plains as rich 



224 Man Redeemed. 

As Eden on the river banks along 

Euphrates, and were one in speech and aim. 

The church again drawn in the strong whirlpool 

Of lust and worldly schemes was nearly lost. 

To recognize its visage fair 'twas hard, 

Or to distinguish it amid the world 

Of lust and vanity, in greed of power. 

With one accord they reasoned to erect 

A tower to defy the powers of heaven, 

And render it a city of refuge 

And defence, whose top should reach 'bove the 

clouds, — ■ 
A city of renown throughout the earth. 
Confusion then of speech by Spirit Power, 
To save the church and render her distinct 
And known, the second era terminates : 
That separate, a church and people, set 
Apart for God, elected from the world, 
For service might be kept, both true and holy. 
Contamination with the world, the church 
In league with Satan, God ne'er long endures. 
For wrath begins and soon, and judgment too, 



Man Redeemed. 225 

When God's elect have oneness with the world. 
Nations and men into the lowest hells 
Of vile iniquity may sink and sport 
Themselves, and God forbear to punish long, 
For even generations let continue 
And suffer them to prosper in the world : 
But when the church denies herself, becomes 
With sin most foul, then judgment is at hand. 

The era third with Abraham begins, 
A patriarchal age in history, 
And ends with Israel's sad captivity 
In Egypt's garden of delights along 
The Nile. The promise of deliverance, 
Vouchsafed of heaven, more clearly now appears : — 
In him should all the families of earth 
Be blessed. His promised seed should multiply, 
Subdue, redeem and save the earth from sin's 
Sad blight by means of one, a Saviour yet 
To come. With faith. he heard the gospel news 
In glad delight, and henceforth was the friend 
Of God, accredited and true, the son 



226 Mci7i Redeemed. 

Of heaven and righteous in the sight of angels. 

His piety and faith were prominent, 

Guilty of but few lapses, honestly 

Recorded, showing his mortality ; 

Refusing to ally his son and heir, 

Isaac, with the polluted Canaanites ; 

Who talked familiarly as friend to friend 

With God in human form, — persistently 

Used forceful speech to turn Him from His purpose 

To destroy wicked Sodom and Gomorrah ; 

Who reverenced Melchisedek, because 

A priest and consecrated to the Lord. 

A mighty prince ; renowned and valiant ; strong 

Enough to conquer kings, and generously 

Refusing to take any part of spoil ; 

Of courteous, modest, meek and dignified 

Demeanor, truly one of royal blood. 

In generosity few men before 

Or since his time have equalled Abraham. 

Though having prior right because of age, 

Kinship and wealth to choose himself the place, 

And fattest of the land in which to dwell 



Man Redeemed. 227 

And feed vast multitudes of flocks and herds 

Which had accumulated upon his hands, 

He generously suffered Lot to choose 

While from a mountain peak, exceeding high, 

Together they viewed and discussed the whole 

Of Palestine. The valley lying low, 

Guarded by mountains, through which Jordan flows 

And renders rich and fragrant all the plane, 

Lot coveted for its wealth, and remarked 

Upon its being rich and beautiful 

As Eden in its wealth of luxury 

Original. Hence there he went with all 

His flocks, dependents, families and wealth, 

And dwelt with wicked Sodomites, a prince 

Himself, and so esteemed throughout the plane. 

But Abraham was still content to dwell 

In tents at Hebron, 'mong the sterile hills, 

For prayer and meditation, hid almost 

From the world's view in close obscurity, 

And loved his quiet peaceful home above 

Beersheba or all of Palestine. 

Thus Lot was snared and suffered poverty 



228 Man Redeemed. 

And final overthrow in punishment 
For covetousness, while Abraham grew 
Stronger, increased in wealth and in esteem 
Of all the land in which he dwelt a prince. 

A prophecy the church has never learned, 
And warning ever since unheeded, are 
Here taught — unwelcome truth, but salutary. 
The church too often, like Lot, has coveted 
The world, its wealth and luxury ; has grown 
Carnal in consequence ; is tottering 
Upon the brink of ruin, then near its fall. 
Unlike the Master when by Satan tempted 
And offered all the kingdoms of the world, 
Their wealth and glory, if He'd homage pay 
To him, the prince and power of earth and air. 
In England when the church was founded, cities 
And valleys rich were chosen ; while the men 
Of prayer, the Culdees, retirement sought, 
Content with poverty, and preached the truth 
With power and grace, and laid foundations strong 
For all the future of the church of God, — 



Man Redeemed. 229 

Safe while depending on Heaven's grace, divine, 
And humbly laboring for the poor and lone, 
And for the rich who've poverty of spirit, 
Who're seeking God in deep humility. 

But modern times have sadly lapsed, look awry, 
And tread with delicate feet the old paths. 
There are within the church, 'tis said a few, 
Divines who scheme and lust for wealth and power, 
Applause and glitter of the world ; and seek, 
Unseemly oftentimes, the fattest fields 
Which seemingly offer to gratify 
Unholy greed — ambition in the church ! 

Their Master, owning all the spacious world, 
Scarce room He found or sought to lay His head ! 
And O ! shall sinful man, bought by His blood, 
On pleasure, self and greatness be intent ? 

Such patronizingly esteem the less 
Favored — but call them, brethren, — tolerate 
Their presence, oftentimes with seeming grace — 
But courtly restiveness pronouncing them 
The while intruders in their precious realms ; 



230 Man Redeemed. 

Concerned for little in the church — except 
'Twill minister to their luxuriant fields ; 
Caring for few — except the prominent ! 

Their Master's mission was to address the poor. 
Alas ! that wealth and pleasure, speaking fair, 
Should steal the heart from grace and love away ! 
So did the Jewish priests Barabbas choose 
Instead of Christ the meek, poor Nazarene ! 
Not to the world and flesh quite dead enough, 
Nor hid enough in spirit life with God ! 
Prosperity and wealth than poverty 
And grief and pain 'tis harder much to bear. 
We'll pity more than blame where fault is found ! 

But teachers, prominent in schools, tell us : — * 
The ministry is overstocked, such as 
The clergy are ! True doubtless, boldly said, 
And honest if they themselves photograph ! 



* " Just now I am convinced," says one, " we are making too many doc- 
tors, such as they are ; too many lawyers, such as they are ; too many min- 
isters, such as they are." We judge from some articles which we have seen 
lately that some persons would be ready to extend the catalogue, and say 
" too many professors, such as they are ; too many theological schools, 
such as they are." 



Man Redeemed. 231 

Will they forgive if one who's meek and poor 

And insignificant insinuates, — 

The prominent may be the effervescence, 

And likely are, because the most exposed 

To tendencies defacing purity. 

The violets, though modest, yet have worth 

And beauty, fragrance — more esteemed and sought 

Than sunflowers which stand stiffly eminent* 

Pastors who're shepherds of the flock, and such 
In truth, and not accrediting themselves 



* " There is no class of men for whom I have so much respect and affec- 
tion as for average ministers of the Gospel," says Dr. Babb. " They are 
not sustained in their labors by popular applause and newspaper puffs, but 
by the love of Christ and the souls of men. They are patient, persevering, 
self-denying. They endure as seeing Him who is invisible. They lay the 
foundations for others to build upon. They do not estimate themselves at 
so many thousands a year, but are willing to work even though poorly paid 
and riot highly esteemed of men, knowing that their reward is in Heaven. 
It is these average ministers who have extended the Church over this broad 
continent and established missionary stations around the world. Let us 
honor them as God does. Let us not provoke Him to anger by treating 
them with indifference or contempt. And if we ourselves are but average 
ministers in the estimation of the world, let us rejoice that God has counted 
us worthy ; for to be His ambassador in some frontier settlement is nobler 
than to wear the crown of an emperor." 



232 Man Redeemed. 

The wiser leaders of their silly sheep ; 
Pastors who supervise the church of God, — 
Not Sabbath clubs, composed of fash'nables, 
Ignoring law and all authority, 
Divine or human — license rampant in 
God's house ; but pastors of the Master taught 
Will shun, not seek, resorts of fashion, wealth 
And pleasure, watering-places lewd with games, 
Horse-racing, frolics which allure the world : 
In virtues such not erudite and learned — 
Defective education here will never 
Virtue's fair face in light of day make blusji. 
There are who'll censure eloquently priests 
Of Rome for hawking, fox-hunts and the like 
In feudal times, long since, and deem them base 
Because they catered to the sports of nobles, — 
Compared, the modern more effeminate, 
In which with zest and pleasure they'll engage, 
Or else by mingling with the multitudes 
Without protest give countenance thereto, 
And in extenuation of their guilt 
Claim need of rest — vacation ! is the term. 



Man Redeemed. 233 

From active duties of the ministry — 
Vacate themselves the while of Spirit Power ! 
The rest, forsooth, which fashionables enjoy 
Is mockery to common sense, and more 
Than mockery to need of rest alleged, 
And to intelligence, of which the world's 
Not quite bereft, but specious terms their true 
Meaning, intent and force discerns, though silent. 
'Twas. doubtless pleasant with the Sodomites 
Upon the banks of Jordan beautiful, 
And dull and dreary 'mong the sterile hills 
Of Hebron, yet the safer place for men 
Of prayer to gather strength and rest the brain, 
Without intoxicants which enervate 
Body and mind, and quench all unction in 
The heart. Our churches languish — reason why ! 
Let many seek the cause within themselves. 
Indeed not long nor far we'll need to search ! 
The world perceives — is silent, or assents 
With pleasure ill concealed, and winks and leers 
If clergy do but dance the dance of death ! 
Some people will indulge the damaging 



234 Man Redeemed. 

Conceit, that ministers may make mistakes, 

That clergymen may wrong themselves, their cause 

Betray, or indirectly shame their trust ! 

Divines who're eloquent to crimson pews, 
If like their Master, angel eloquence 
Would reach, enjoy a wholesome rest, gain much 
In spirit power and vigor physical 
By searching mountain glens and barren haunts 
To help the poor and lone and sorrowing — 
Who're perishing for lack of food, the bread 
Of life ; and churches found for prayer and praise — 
Where hitherto the air but voiced a curse ■ 
Or wail ; and bless eternally the homes 
Which ne'er before have seen the light of Heaven ! 
'Tis loss to places needing help and home 
And clergymen themselves, to delegate 
The work to brethren, poor in speech and purse — ■ 
But well would serve the churches founded by 
The strong, while being nurtured into strength 
By noble pastors of more wealthy fields. 
Pastors too delicate and nice to serve 
The Master thus, to touch with hands ungloved 



Man Redeemed. 235 

The hardy poor — prefer a foreign tour, 
Or dandling luxury upon the lap 
Of wealth and fashion, ease and elegance, — 
Are too remiss and lewd to serve at all ! 
The pastors who subdue the hearts of others 
Must o'er themselves gain noble victory. 

Torpidity nor cowardice e'er helps 
But enervates, especially in Zion 
Which ought to know the truth and rectify 
A wrong, and crushes hope in human hearts. 
Alas ! that aristocracy should yawn 
And snore, or ever dominate in Zion, 
Greatly imperilling her high intent 
To feed the hungry, cheer the faint and help 
The poor against a world's enslaving power ! 

Jesus ! Thy blessed feet did hallow hill 
And dale, and stony paths — all earth too Thine ; 
Were swift to run in quest of need, and didst 
Disdain to tread the halls of kingly courts ! 
To poor outcasts, to wretched souls — despised 
Of men, how amiable Thou wert, to cheer 
And help and lift them from their fallen state ! — 



2 t,6 Man Redeemed. 

Didst feed the hungry with miraculous 

Food, bread from heaven ; and heal the sick, and soothe 

The sorrowing, and raise the dead to life ! 

Disciples' feet by Thee were washed, though Lord 

Of all the earth, to teach humility. 

If self-abased we'll never fear a fall ! 

O ! that like-minded we might be, to bless 

Our race, not envy man's estate, but crown 

Our life and death with blessings of the poor ! 

Then we'd upon the holy mountain feed, 

Where Christ and His, in loving converse are, 

Around eternal fountains and the streams - 

Of Paradise, transfigured each, and shine 

As Jesus shone on Tabor's heights, sublime ! 

He wept o'er Salem's gross impiety 

And consequent fall drawing near — the groans 

And tears and blood and total overthrow 

Which He foresaw ; and at the grave with friends 

In sympathy ! O lovely Jesus, grant 

Our spirit grace and beauty such as Thine, — 

To serve our race as Thou hast done — from love — 

As though no crown awaits our journey's end ! 



Man Redeemed. 237 

Thus service in its light and shade appears. 
Let each discern that lives are most o'ercast 
Which glitter seemingly — in borrowed light ! 

The day grows brighter upon each era's dawn. 
The fourth begins with Moses, signally 
Prepared by Providence for his great work, 
And ends with Saul made king, which terminated 
The theocratic government that God 
Ordained and regulated for man's best 
Interests. Ne'er had there been prosperity 
And safety better guaranteed since man 
Had lost his purity. God's personal 
Presence in might and love assured the good 
Of every blessing human nature needs. 

In Israel's long captivity in Egypt 
The patriarchal prophecy seemed null 
And void : The sceptre ne'er from Judah shall 
Depart, nor a lawgiver from between 
His feet, till Shiloh come. But Spirit Power 
Reigned in the fiery furnace which tried Israel, 
His chosen seed, the church upon the earth, 



~o< 



Man Redeemed. 



As in the burning bush which Moses saw, 

Near Horeb unconsumed, or even singed. 

The present era partially fulfils 

The prophecy : for Moses qualified 

And trained of Providence with marvellous 

Care in the valley of the Nile, excelled 

In learning by none other ancient land, 

And in the Midian desert undistracted 

By aught without with Jethro for his priest, 

Became lawgiver to the church and world. 

Also himself a prophet and a type 

Became of Shiloh, the Messiah, yet 

To come ; and gave the church and was himself 

The promise of deliverance from sin, 

Which more enslaves than Egypt's despotism. 

The beauteous redemptive day drew nigh 
When Moses, lovely babe, was claimed a prince 
By one of Pharaoh's line of princesses. 
Raised delicately, loved for personal 
Beauty, admired by all he grew to man's 
Estate with courtly manners, and possessed 
Of all the learning Egypt had, — but chose 



Man Redeemed. 239 

To suffer with the people whom God loved, 

Rather than for a season to enjoy 

The pleasures sin affords its votaries. 

Wise, nevertheless a marvellous choice 

For one with cultured gifts, pre-eminent, 

And nigh the throne : aside from power divine 

To prompt and guide and lovingly impel 

The choice, he ne'er could have released himself 

From sin's maelstrom, engulfing multitudes ! 

God's presence personal, His agency 
Immediate or mediate in all 
Pertaining to His people, is the one 
Great leading truth that underlies this era. 
Hence came disaster, and the era waned 
Into the shades of night and gloom intense 
When Israel lusted for a king like other 
Nations ; despised their birthright like Esau, 
Who ne'er recovered it, though sought for long 
And diligently with tears ; lost the favor 
Of heaven, and were given a king in Saul 
To satisfy and judge unholy lust 
And their contemning heaven's gracious reign. 



240 Man Redeemed. 

That they should recognize the agency 

Of heaven, from bondage their release was wrought 

By power alone divine ; their passage through 

The Red Sea on dry ground miraculous ; 

A cloud their guide and shield from heat by day ; 

A fiery pillar, luminous with heaven's 

Splendor, to light them during tedious nights 

And ever reassure a drooping faith. 

The presence personal of God addressed 

Their sight and hearing, — since their time no less 

True than then, but addressing now our faith 

And intellect : the presence then discerned 

In clouds and fire and smoke, — in Sinai's mount 

Which thundered words of terror in their ears, — 

In Spirit Power which brake the flinty rock 

And gave them drink, and gave them angels' food : 

A presence all the same in modern times, 

But differently revealed in consciences 

And hearts of men, in love, the Holy Ghost 

The agent, working upon and in man's spirit. 

'Twas often then in wrath that God appeared, 

The age of law given and enforced that kills, 



Man Redeemed. 241 

Condemns the sinner ; now the age of love, 
Law having been enforced upon the Cross ! 

How little understood, e'en in the church 
Alas ! is God, divine and infinite. 
Through spirit finite beauty is discerned 
In earth and taste in food and smell in flowers 
And brilliancy in stars and beauty known, 
Enjoyed and loved in nature everywhere. 
Without it all is dead to the universe, 
And nothing is discerned or happiness 
Affords, — for matter is inert and gross. 
The blush upon the maiden's cheek, the glance 
Given by the eye, the smile that sweetly comes 
And goes, the words which fall from honeyed tongues 
Are solely spirit giving through the flesh 
Expression of itself. The instrument 
Of the soul, or spirit finite is the body. 
But oh ! the difference between created 
Spirits, — a chasm nearly infinite 
Dividing each from others near akin. 
Gorillas in the wilds of Africa 



242 Man Redeemed. 

Have throats and tongues and voice, but only whine 

And howl ; a scavenger too has the same, 

But speaks a jargon kindred to his work : 

Beside them place a Jenny Lind, with organs 

Of speech no different, but having great 

Themes struggling in her soul and moved to find 

Expression, she begins a melody, 

So ravishing in sweetness, multitudes 

Hearken enraptured — worship and applaud ! 

The universe is less to God than body 

To soul — He infinite, the soul finite. 

He actuates as certainly each part 

As soul the body while it dwells therein. 

Hence darkness is His frown and light His smile, 

The tempests sweeping earth and sea His rod, 

And gentle winds that softly fan the cheek 

His loving touch, the hand to cheer and bless. 

Old Paganism discerned the Deity 

In everything, in nature everywhere 

Traced agency divine, and peopled earth 

And sea, the mountains, plains and groves with gods- 

Religiously wiser and more devout 



Man Redeemed. 243 

Than we, though they erred scientifically. 

'Tis shame upon philosophy to give 

The less and needlessly withhold the greater. 

God is within development of all 

And everything, and also is above 

To guide in whole or part the universe — 

Ubiquitous, supreme and infinite ! 

Each aspect of the myriad forms of nature, 

His nature holy and divine reveals 

And gives His own expression to pure spirit. 

O ! multiform and marvellous beyond 

The thought of man or angel, e'en in earth 

Endless variety in everything, — 

In each we see the face of Deity, — 

And all express the mind and thought of God ! 

Now we're content with gaudy toys, — but soon 
Earth seemingly will slide beneath our feet 
And vanish, leaving us in ether space 
Alone in full view of the spirit worlds ! 
Then all the little thoughts and cares of life, 
Our gold or honor, station or estate 



244 Man Redeemed. 

Will seem as trivial as dust beneath 

Our feet, — and longingly we'll yearn and cry 

For thoughts befitting immortality, — 

And seek to know the dwelling place of God, 

And realize His near and loving hand 

To guide us through the vale and shades of night ! 

Alone in light divine we see the light. 

Alone to drink from fountains pure, which flow 

From spirit source, will satisfy the soul. 

Apart from God, created spirit droops 

And mourns, and shorn of all its beauty roams 

And writhes in agonies of conscious guilt, : — 

A star aflame beyond the realms of bliss, 

The sport of chance, beyond the sweet restraints 

Of moral law, — upon which to look e'en pales 

The face of heaven's light and casts a gloom 

Like death within the realms elysium ! 

Unspeakable the. advantage, and renowned 
Moses became, when always he discoursed 
Upon God's presence personal : within 
The veil Shekinah's glory manifest 



Man Redeemed. 245 

Was seen : upon Sinai His lightnings fierce ; 

Thence too the thunders of His voice were heard 

In words distinct and clear, which terrified 

The multitudes. Then Moses stood to them 

In place of God, because the people feared 

To hear the voice which thundered from the mount. 

No clergyman his office properly 
Administers who fails in this respect. 
Alas ! how many fail and preach a jargon, 
Pronounce their sibboleths, and ventilate 
A little science, less theology, 
And strive to please the ear and tickle fancy 
Into profane uproarious applause, 
Or stifling flattery, effeminate. 
'Tis called professional, a science, art, — 
And such it really is — an art to slay 
The soul with opiates, when wickedly 
Deflected from its true, divine intent ! 

O God ! remove the cloud obscuring earth 
And sea, that servants filling sacred desks, 
May look beyond and far into the heights, — 



246 Man Redeemed. 

Discern Thy glory and Thy wrath and power, 

And realize the great and good intent 

Of their commission to a sacred work ! 

O ! give them vision of the Cross, suffused 

With Blood, and melt their hearts, and fire their tongues 

To preach of Christ and Precious Blood alone ! 

O Precious Blood ! whose price can purchase worlds 
From wrath and sin, whose stream can cleanse the 

soul, 
Can Heaven restore to blighted, darkened earth, 
Can bring the highest bliss from ether realms, — 
Subdue the ministers of evil, quench 
The fires of Hell, and conscience stings restrain, — 
O Heavens ! in mercy pour its flood, as rain 
Copious, upon our parched and barren souls, — 
That life may quick return, and graces grow, 
Flourish and render beautiful our lives ! 
In front of Pilate's hall beneath a crown 
Of thorns, the fountain issues — crimson tides 
To shame, confuse, appal the guilty earth ; 
On Calvary the Fount becomes an Ocean 
Without a shore — which throbs the love of Heaven ! 



Man Redeemed. 247 

Thus service in the church in sombre shades 
And dark and lowering clouds, or light appears ! 

The desert training Moses had, was deemed 
Of Heaven as necessary as the course 
Afforded him in Egypt's schools renowned. 
The culture of the ministry with care 
And diligence, the human element, 
In modern times is liable to quench 
And supersede the higher spiritual, 
Through institutions set apart, endowed 
Richly, establishments where danger lies 
To foster clergy aristocracy : 
Called schools of prophets, artlessly esteemed 
Such in good faith, — whence 'tis thought incense sweet 
Ascends hourly, propitiating Heaven, 
Like that behind the veil upon the altar 
Holy within the sacred tent — the prayers 
Of saints, which render venerable and holy 
The very ground where stand the monuments 
Munificence and piety have built. 
Such ought to be a fact pre-eminent ! 



248 Man Redeemed. 

Lo, Bethels ! but endowed and rich — ambitious 
And proud, they're corporations corpulent ; 
In danger imminent to pedagogue 
The weak to worship them in servitude 
Abject ; and then, alas ! they'll God dethrone 
Where scientifically He's ably taught : 
Then spirit power, apostatised, becomes 
Parent prolific of gross ills, which quench 
Humility, the lamp of holiness — 
Her light obscured where most it needs to glow ; — 
And Heaven becomes o'ercast, and clouds draw near, 
With lurid flames and thunder peals surcharged ! 

Titles for patronage, most plethoric 
Are in the church and schools and agencies, 
And foster aristocracy and caste 
Where most humility ought to prevail 
And crown a sacred ministry, adorned 
And honored most by love to God and man, — 
Where parity is claimed, but least exists ! 
If Christ, our Lord, were titled Doctor, Pope 
Or Cardinal, 'twould seem and be profane ! 
The Shepherd of the sheep, our Saviour meek, 



Man Redeemed. 249 

The Pastor of the flock, is title quite 

Enough for Him, and ought to satisfy 

His servants too, who're called of Him to serve. 

Had apostolic times addressed the four 

Illustrious Divines, as, Doctor Paul 

Or Peter, James or John, our ears would stand 

Askew — we'd judge their hearing quite impaired. 

Now schools inflict, and modest names are made 

To glow like comets by the tail they sweep 

Athwart the heavens, — and long as they are light, 

Or rarified proportioned to their length, — 

And too like consternation may create, 

As comets do, of some disaster near ! 

There is a spirit power in Agencies, 
In seminaries, boards and colleges, 
In churches, neighborhoods and families — 
'Tis recognized by whate'er dominates ; 
Controlling, giving gait and character, — 
As spirit dominates in man and gives 
Complexion to whate'er he is and does- 
Renders him angel-like in beauty, grace 
And mien ; or ugly, vile, repulsive like 



250 Man Redeemed. 

The fiends in nethermost abyss of hell ! 

As man both thought and character impresses 

Upon whate'er and all he has to do, — 

So God or angels, good or bad, the soul 

May rule. Hence Scriptures teach that man should 

pray, 
And alway strive to have the Holy Ghost 
His Helper — only safe and blessed then ! 
When He the soul controls, His lineaments — 
Most tender, loving, beautiful, are* seen 
In us in acts and words and character — 
Heaven stooping to the earth, and man to God 
Conformed in image, beauty and in thought, 
As seal to wax impressed by hand divine. 
Though Spirit Infinite all space pervades, 
Each atom and the universe entire, 
Yet spirit finite independent acts 
At times, responsible, for thus it may, 
Though living in a spirit atmosphere 
Encircling all, — and it in Person God, — 
Ye.t He, Supreme, in love may not control 
Direct or indirect, for reasons best 



Man Redeemed. 251 

Known to Himself, which finite mind in Heaven 
May understand and fathom, but not here. - 
And ne'er against our will does He constrain. 
Alas ! we're often left to act alone, 
To plume our wings and soar abroad without 
The Parent's help, and ne'er from danger then 
Are free. In sinning we're unhelped of God, 
Act wantonly and may destroy the soul ! 
If happiness our life adorns, our soul 
Must exercise itself in things most pure, — 
Must bask in heaven's atmosphere, where love 
Supremely reigns without corroding wraths, — 
Be strong and valiant for the truth and God : 
And on the other hand must shun whate'er 
Corrupts, degrades or renders gross the soul. 
In either case 'tis spirit power enlarged, 
Matured by what it feeds upon, for good 
Or evil, for this and the future life. 
The world is what the spirit in it is ! 
Where'er an evil tendency exists, 
'Tis more than martial glory won in arms 
To fearlessly forewarn, denounce in love 



252 Man Redeemed. 

That's true, — which has an air and grace angelic, - 
Which neither begs nor fawns, palav'ring sweet 
With words effeminate in elegance — 
Base sycophancy ; genuflected — slave 
To power and tinsel popularity ! 

'Tis true that many in the chairs of schools 
For sacred learning are heaven's noblemen, 
And so are very many whom they teach. 
For such in quiet parishes to teach 
And learn, and fast and pray, — or Christian life, 
Humility and Spirit Power divine 
In light and grace cause to pervade, control 
And saturate, and thoroughly, with glow 
Of love the sacred schools, this paramount 
To precious lore there taught, would educate 
A ministry to revolutionize 
The times and bring millennial glory near ; 
And make the tongue aflame with eloquence, 
Because of love intense for God and man, — 
With ne'er a thought of introducing self 
For honor, praise or gratulation vain ; 
And kindle in their place a heavenly light ! 



Man Redeemed. 25, 

Jesus ! who left His throne, earth's Teacher great, 
In solitudes His heavenly thoughts conveyed 
To His disciples, chosen from the poor, 
And hallowed every place, where sorrow's wail 
Invoked the gracious help divine of Heaven. 
He taught and loved as man has never done, 
And left a legacy for future times 
Of wisdom, grace and power to save the earth 
From sin's sad blight, and disenthrall her sons 
From Satan's power and give them realms of bliss ! 

Dear Lord ! how sweet it were to sit beneath 
Thy feet and have Thy ruby lips distil 
The dew of heavenly wisdom in our soul 
Enraptured, whether on the mountain peak, 
In vales, upon the sea, or by the way ; 
How great the privilege vouchsafed to man 
To journey at Thy side, endure the ills 
Of poverty as though possessed of worlds ; 
To rest in hovels poor, or palaces, 
Alike content with Thee in every place ; 
To see no good except with Thee, dear Lord ! 
To gather treasures of the heavenly realms 



254 Man Redeemed. 

Of Thee, oh Saviour ! every place alike 

Is Heaven, — Thy presence renders nothing hard, 

Nay ! renders sweet what otherwise is ill ! 

A mission holy sanctifies a place ; 
No place can sanctify a worldly heart. 
Where'er the blessed feet of Jesus trod, 
Where'er He taught beneath the canopy 
Of heaven, where'er He prayed in midnight hours, 
Or rested by the way, 'twas holy ground. 
The chairs of doctorates in synagogues, 
And rich preferments in Jerusalem's 
Great Temple, honors which the world bestows, 
And multitudes with eyes distended wide 
And open mouth pursue, He justly scorned. 
His followers alike can bless the world, 
And sanctify the place their feet abide, 
However poor, howe'er distressed or lone, 
And soon convert the world to Him, shed light 
In every heart, if they'll His lesson heed — 
In love with Him — His smiling radiance, 
The beauty of their Lord, their highest joy — 
His presence bliss — His service their delight, — 
To serve as He has served our blighted earth ! 



Man Redeemed. 255 

Moses, a man of God illustrious, 
And mighty both in words and deeds, drew nearer 
To things invisible to human sense 
And spirit world, than any man before 
Or since his time. God's love his pious wish 
Indulged while hid within a rocky cleft, 
Displaying to him His similitude, 
Restraining him the while from drawing near. 
To see His face we'd die of love for God ; 
To see His glory there, would kindle flames 
Within our breast which nature could not bear, 
Insufferable, so bright and beautiful ! 
Hence are His features veiled from mortal sight, — 
And Moses e'en was lovingly restrained 
From looking in the face of Deity ! 
Though almost idolized, because so noble, 
Erect in body, beautiful in soul, 
Yet mortal, having flesh and bone, the time 
Drew near that he must die, e'en while his strength 
And force were unabated, and his sight 
Undimmed. He died in Moab and was buried 
There by the Lord Himself, who carefully 



256 Man Redeemed. 

Concealed his sepulchre from mourning Israel, 
And gave archangel Michael charge thereof, 
As cherubim guarded the gates of Eden 
To prevent a worse evil than the fall. 
'Twas doubtless merciful, and heaven's intent 
To save all Israel from idolatry, 
The worshipping the dead or relics — called 
Sacred and venerated by the Church 
Of Rome, as Israel doubtless would have done. 
But Satan claimed the right of tempting Israel, 
As he'd before tried Job by grant of heaven. 
Too often had His people Israel fallen 
For God to trust them thus in Satan's hands. 
Upon one occasion Joshua, the high 
Priest, side by side with the angel of the Lord 
Stood, and lo ! there was Satan to resist, — 
Whom sternly then at once the Lord rebuked. 
Iniquity is bold, and Satan none 
The less ! Now Michael strong and pure pre- 
vails 
Against the arrogant and subtle Tempter. 
But Michael railed nor cursed, but mildly said, 



Man Redeemed. 257 

The Lord rebuke thee, Satan. For pure spirits 

To maledict would compromise themselves. 

Michael did not refrain from using harsh 

Words because impotent, or from a fear 

Of law divine, but patience marvellous 

And moderation characterized him 

In that most notable, but not the only 

Contest with the archfiend : example for all 

And each of patience even with the bad. 

For heaven even with the obdurate 

And flagrantly corrupt is loving, mild 

And tender, always using gentle speech 

And moving words of sympathy and love, — 

Except for hypocrites within the church, 

The whited sepulchres of mere pretence 

To piety and love for God and heaven. 

Language fails to express for such heaven's scorn ! 

To maledict the hopelessly corrupt, 

Without intent or possibility 

Of doing good to them or others, betrays 

A spirit like the maledicted angels. 

If lost, 'tis fitting that we pity them, 



258 Man Redeemed. 

In heart feel sorrow and inwardly weep, 
E'en as o'er Jerusalem Jesus wept ! 

Michael with Satan fought to render heaven 
Pure, and expelled him from the sacred place : 
No contest otherwise in church or heaven. 
The stream which most adorns to bless the world, 
Is never dry like cisterns made by man, 
Is always at its fountain head most pure, 
Nor fearing in its source the summer droughts 
Is God's beloved church, the greatest gift 
Which heaven bestows upon the world and angels. 
More than in aught else earth possesses, heaven's 
Beatitudes and glory reappear 
In her — its source and Head forever sweet 
And fragrant, sparkling pure and lovable. 
However pure the source, the stream by man, 
In acts overt or by neglect of duty 
Which God enjoins, may foul become, impure 
To some extent, which carefully the saints, 
Redeemed by blood Divine, and ministers, 
Appointed watchmen in the church, should guard 



Man Redeemed. 259 

With jealous care and great solicitude, — 

And smile at laurels, gaudy, puerile toys 

Which lure the vain, the wise degrade to fools, — 

And only long for service worthy high 

Ambition, to exalt the lowly, help 

The poor and raise the race to eminence. 

Always the church has more to do with evils 
And sins and tendencies thereto, within 
Than those without. To rail, as many do, — 
Making it a pastime professional — 
A service cheap and easily performed, 
Against the infidel, the flagrantly 
Wicked, the sceptic, Satan and his angels 
Is shooting at too long a range, and wastes 
Missiles, the enemy not usually 
Just then within their sight. They'd doubtless flee 
In case he were. But it's the popular 
Preaching, and safe for any seeking help 
And commendation, patronal regard — 
Whose fingers always feel the people's pulse. 
Thus none are hurt, and evils in the church 
Are winked at, and remain untouched and grow 



260 Man Redeemed. 

Apace — whose pastors, false to sacred trust, 

Are dormant, feasting while their churches die ! — 

And doubtless popular, of whom all men 

Speak well, — but possibly too in accord 

With flesh and world, against whom Christ pronounced 

Solemnly woes, — for thus the prophets false, 

Said He, were in regard. For Satan ne'er 

Molests the faithless, fearful, politic 

Divines, who covet more the praise of men, 

Whom daily they commingle with and know, 

Than fear the frown of heaven which they fail 

To see. The clergy have to do with sin.' 

Enough they'll find within the church and heart 

At hand — if not too fearful to institute 

A search. To render pure the church redeems 

The world, saves sinners, preaches gospel truth 

In every land, — gives joy where sorrow reigns ! 

Let men not fear to own the truth, — the fount, 
The human heart is foul, and none's exempt. 
All liable to err should watch themselves ! 
We've God alone the Fount of purity 
For all that is, which live and move and think. 



Man Redeemed. 261 

The streams the feet of sinning men and angels 
Have rendered foul, — but all the while the Fount 
Is pure and sweet, and sparkles ever bright ! 

The last conflict will doubtless be with demons 
In hearts professing zeal for God, deceived 
Deceivers 'mong the saints, malignant foes 
Of righteous men and enemies of truth, 
Unholy men within the church — as Satan 
With Michael when he strove for Moses' body — 
Not infidelity and all without. 
The world to harm the church is powerless 
While Zion's sons are true and pure themselves. 
And victory will ever crown the church, 
Never uncertain, when in faith and prayer 
She fights the sins that are within Herself, — 
And trusts to God for victory o'er the world 
And every form of unbelief without. 

Alas ! that faith should not enlarge and glow 
E'en here, by knowing, fearing, loving Thee, 
O God ! w T ho art revealed so lovingly 
And bright to earth and heaven, to man and angel ! 
With naked eye we never see, but souls 






262 Man Redeemed. 

Discern in Thee, O God, an Ocean, o'er 
Its lucid bosom e'er a calm, with ne'er 
A ripple, ne'er divided into streams, 
In essence One, in glory One and power 
The same— yet never Father, Son, and Spirit 
Holy have seemed eternally but One 
Since worlds and spirits into Being came ! 
What countless lustres gleam and radiate 
And glow in varied shades eternally 
Therefrom, the heavens ne'er fully will reveal ! 
The Father reigns and dwells alone, in Him 
The self-existent Son forever lives, 
From Them the Holy Ghost, a Person each, 
In deepest depths of love forever reign ! 
The Spirit Dove abides where Christ is loved ! 
The like is unrevealed, surpassing thought ! 
No shadow e'er obscures that intercourse, 
That blissful life, that dreadful Trinity ! 
What power, finite, can cope with Infinite ? 
But wondrous love is Theirs, and wisdom just 
As bright, and mercy to the sons of earth. 
We think of Thee beyond our little space — 



Man Redeemed. 263 



And present too ; we think of Thee above, 

Below, and near — and also hope, within ! 

Beneath Thy shade we lie ; the fleecy clouds 

O'erhead we watch — nor fear their wraths the while ! 

A soft and glowing light their borders fringe, 

And darkness is suffused with golden rays, 

Which symbolize our lives and sorrows here, — 

For God is light, whose beams illume our homes 

And hearts and shrines, e'en when the darkness hides 

Whate'er is bright and beautiful from view ! 

'Mid showers of tears love ne'er more sweetly beams, 

Nor smiles more radiant glow, in trust and love. 

In thought of Thee, our littleness we feel, 

And tread with modesty earth's sacred paths, — 

But conscious of Thy love, without a fear 

Of Satan, man, or beast, or storms abroad ! 

The ills which from within beset our way 

Are harder far to bear and overcome 

Than like in others seen, or in the world. 

When self is overcome, subdued and rests 

In God, there's victory, a rout, triumph 

Where battle must begin, to issue well ! 



264 Man Redeemed. 

Oh, God ! unveil Thy sweet face, Heaven illumed, 
That we may know and fear and love Thee more, 
And flee the sins which turn Thy face aside, 
Thy beauteous face, or hide Thee from our 
view ! 
Fidelity of spirit power appears 
In lovely light when self is first subdued, 
A harder task than fighting other men — 
And more distasteful to a nature fallen. 

But Moses, though his body died, did not 
As to his person sleep in the dark grave. - 
For person is not body which we see, — 
Invisible forever it remains 
Except so far as 'tis revealed by substance 
Material, of earth or ether pure. 
The person of the prophet had escaped 
The soul's casket dead, for which Satan strove. 
A body spiritual was doubtless given, 
Of heavenly origin, of flesh and blood 
Divested. And let us indulge the thought, 
That chariot and horses all ablaze 



Man Redeemed. 265 

With fire of dazzling beauty, heavenly, 

Transported earth's chief prophet, loved of God, 

Triumphant, up-borne, swift as tongues of flame. 

The glowing wheels dashed o'er the firmament 

From star to star, in seeming scorn of space 

Which intervenes between the earth and Heaven. 

Angels upon the battlements of heaven 

Assembled, welcomed his approach with joy. 

The city, ere gained, opened wide its gates, 

To let the chariot triumphal enter. 

With gladness seraphim and cherubim 

Became escorts through heaven's streets to thrones 

Where Jesus welcomed him, amid heaven's shouts, 

And melody produced by angels' skill 

On instruments tuned to heaven's harmony. 

No previous era brighter dawned and shone 
In earthly splendor more than did the fifth ; 
Which engages now in brief space our thought. 

'Tis monarchy, high eminent in earth, 
Enthroned, to see by grant of heaven what man 
Can physically do, by using earth's 



266 Ma?i Redeemed. 

Best gifts, to render happiness and peace 
Supreme, to conquer all the reigning powers 
Of evil and afford security. 
That man's a failure history records ! 

This era dawned in David, and its bright 
Meridian attained in Solomon, 
And closed with monarchy enslaving Israel, 
Depository of the church of God. 
Repeated futile efforts monarchy 
Made to regain its place and power and throne, — 
Lost by arraying power against the church. 
Imperial Rome the last enslavement made 
And sadly closed this most eventful era ; 
She in turn broken, destroyed by Spirit Power : 
The same as Pharaoh's kingdom and his throne, 
And Babylon the great of lesser guilt. 
A solemn truth the past and present teaches, — 
That churches are destroyed whene'er in league 
With carnal powers in every overthrow, 
Like gold refined what's pure alone preserved ; 
Or when enslaved by them the powers themselves 
Soon cease, expire and come to bloody end !- — 



Man Redeemed. 267 

But ne'er can be enslaved except untrue 
And base and faithless to her solemn trust ! 

Same truth again, appearing manifest, — 
Disaster comes and eras end, when God's 
Church lapses into sins which quench His Spirit. 
This only revolutionizes earth 
And man, and never fails in speedy change, 
And judgment great or light gauged by the sins. 
Hence earth gives signs of woe when churches fall — 
And well she may, for judgment is at hand, — 
E'en while the church is busily engaged 
And exercised about the sins in others 
And in the world, and everywhere except 
Within herself: as did self-righteous Jews, 
Who railed against, maligned and crucified 
The Lord Himself! To introspect would harm 
Entail upon none, but good alone convey ; 
But actual harm, or little good is done 
By most prospecting telescopically. 
In keeping with the common themes discoursed 
Upon sins keenly searched for in the world, 



268 Man Redeemed. 

Or hell, or ancient times, to moderate 
Excuse or quiet pangs of conscious' guilt, — 
Not a few readily too often detect, 
With seeming pleasure, sins in others, make 
So fierce assaults upon them, you'd suppose 
They'd set themselves to guard the lives of States, 
Or that the world were all ablaze, — who least 
Of any class, e'en by mistake will act 
With common sense, intelligence, or wisely 
Discern their own, and introspect themselves ; 
Who more should fear the treachery of sin 
And wrong and ills within their bosom nursed, 
Than e'en malevolence in others' breasts ! 

Many are those who wish and work us ill, 
Like cruel wolves that howl afar for blood, — 
For sin abounds — but grace much more, in hearts 
Allied to God and saved through love Divine ! 
Jesus, the accusations priests alleged 
In envy and in hate, He meekly bore, 
And silent faced accusing multitudes. 
Oh, blessed Jesus ! Thou hast taught us how 
Best to endure and conquer spleen and wraths, 



Man Redeemed. 269 

Or scandals vile, malicious, evil speech, 
Or accusations false, — by setting seals 
Upon our lips, where words but feed the flame, — 
By calm, angelic dignity — the mien 
Of Heaven — too high to stoop to men inflamed 
By demons, kindred spirits of their own, 
Who're harbored, and to whom a willing ear 
Is given seductive speech and harmful schemes ! 
O come, let us each stand beneath the Cross, 
And see ourself the guilty wretch who costs 
The patient Saviour, groans and tears and blood ! 
Oh, Jesus ! give us light which shines most clear 
From Calvary's Cross, illume our guilty selves, 
And break our hearts, and open founts of tears 
From seeing sins within, from learning more 
Of self, and hating sins that made Thee mourn 
And die upon the tree which man matured ! 
Then service in the church a light will shed 
The world will scarcely fail to recognize, — 
Discerning purity to emulate ! 
The church from shade to light will then arise 
And shine in beauty's Spirit Power, Divine ! 



270 Man Redeemed. 

The shrub that yields the sweetest flower has thorns, 
The road that leads to eminence is rough, 
And dark the night that yields to clearest day, — 
So man is crucified to enter Heaven ! — 
But woe to them who perpetrate the crime ! 
Within the vales and quiet solitudes 
Of earth may pleasures reign, but glory comes 
In crowning radiance through suffering ! 

Since Israel asked a king, contemned the reign 
Of heaven, the Lord ordained that man should see 
The phases good and bad of monarchy, 
In all its varied aspects : — man enthroned 
Upon the earth to reign in Sovereignty ; 
And man enslaved by man in greed of power ; 
Man crueller than fiercest reptiles seen 
Ages ago in earth's dark history ; 
Whole nations slaughtered, streams with blood o'er- 

fiowed, 
Human gore steaming soils of every land, 
Corrupting air and bringing pestilence 
So rank and dire the beasts and birds escape ; 



Man Redeemed. 271 

The groans of innocents, of maidens, babes 
And aged sires, and writhing agonies 
Rendered the themes for sportive glee, comment, 
Hilarity, and O ! discordance, — hell's 
Malignant mirth excelled and made to blush 
On earth by men — by kings enthroned in power! 

With David, faithful, true to pastorate 
The ewes with young and guard with vigilance 
The flocks committed to his care, this era 
Begins in seeming promise of most blessed 
Results. In Bethlehem secure, content 
And happy 'mong its hills to range, where born ; 
And in its plains to meditate and sing - 
Along its tranquil rills the livelong day — 
His life melodious with harp and song, 
Without a thought or care for luxury 
Aside from that enjoyed, which ministered 
Then to his soul, the highest known in gift 
Of heaven to man, — there Samuel, the great 
Prophet of Israel unannounced appeared 
At Jesse's feast and found the Shepherd boy ; 



272 Man Redeemed. 

Discerned, through Spirit Power, the qualities 
In him of royalty, and there anointed 
David with holy oil the future king 
Of Israel ; that with skill, integrity 
And purity of heart the chosen people 
Of God might be fed by a pastor's hand. 

Samuel, unhelped by Spirit Power,- would not 
Have chosen the rustic, who before him stood 
Unsandled and unwashed, with naught about 
His loins except his shepherd frock, with staff 
And sling in hand, uncouth and innocent, ' 
Without a thought beyond his father's flocks : 
The beauty of his character, his power 
And worth, were by the seer yet undiscerned. 

A lesson here is given that all may learn. 
The modern church her pastors choose — a trust 
Freighted with good or ill in spirit life. 
Alas ! if lacking piety and grace, 
Committees, deacons, eiders magnify 
Their office and judge captiously the force, 
The depth, the orthodoxy and the logic 



Man Redeemed. 2j y 

Of candidates — weighed in their balances — 

Whether too they have wealth or titled sires ; 

And aged matrons over spectacles 

Look sharp, and eye their manner, tone and gait — 

Their office to detect and note each flaw, 

And learn if they're of children innocent ; 

While maidens gay, both young and old, discuss 

Their smiles, complexion, figure, and the cloth 

They wear, the set of their cravats, the kind 

Of perfumes used, and whether young and sweet !— 

If candidates for matrimony too — 

A mormon priest would scarcely fail a call, — - 

Then are of Spirit Power Divine such churches 

Bereft, unhelped of God and carnally 

Inclined, and look as Samuel did at first 

Upon Eliab, ere God announced His choice. 

But churches seeking Spirit Power and help 

Divine, in faith and prayer, which pastors choose 

Who're able to instruct, and wise to lead 

A flock in pastures green, along the stream 

Of life, and bring them safely to the fold 

Upon the plains of Eden, are blessed indeed ! 

12* 



274 Man Redeemed. 

The spirit power of churches alternates 
Between both good and evil, light and shade, 
Where light and good alone should sweetly reign — 
Sole atmosphere where reigns the Holy Ghost. 
Blessed indwelling Spirit, Comforter 
Divine, alas ! that any should restrain 
Thy power and glory which relieves the Curse, — 
To bear their pains and griefs without Thy help, 
Without Thy healing touch to soothe their ills, 
To calm their fears and dry their tearful eyes ! 

A blessed gift to Israel, — but for David, 
Sad, inauspicious was the day when taken 
From sheepcotes and his native hills and vales 
To occupy a throne and wield a sceptre. 
His solitary, happy, gleeful life 
And innocent peace bid adieu forever ! 

Great was his power to win the hearts of men, 
Developed in after years when called to rule : 
With ruddy face ; clear open countenance ; 
Comely, but goodly person ; with eyes bright 
And fair and mild, — but flames when passions kindled 



Man Redeemed. 275 

In his breast through wrongs done himself or others ; 

Swift as a wild gazelle upon mountain crags ; 

With strength of arm to break a bow of steel ; 

Agility to leap a wall, as wild 

Deer scorn a hedge which intercepts their path ; 

And courage to assail a lion and bear, 

Moved by a bleating lamb within their jaws, 

Or giant from Philistia defying 

Israel, and slew the lion and bear, and bore 

Away the giant's head and sword in triumph, 

Qualities winning and admired by all. 

Though rival, Jonathan loved more the son 

Of Jesse than man does a lovely maid, 

Caring not though supplanted in the throne; 

The virgins too of Israel, songs of praise 

With harp and timbrel sang to him, the prince 

With every manly quality to win 

Or conquer every heart with ease and grace ; 

And Judah jealously, with love intense, 

Watched o'er the youngest son of Jesse, claiming 

Him their own darling prince, of their own tribe 

Born to high destiny, as they discerned, 



276 Man Redeemed. 

And tremulously watched his steps, pursued 
Upon the mountains like a partridge wild, 
Through forests, wildernesses, and in caves 
By envious Saul, jealous of his power. 

Thus disciplined he rose superior 
To every foe, became imperial, 
A conqueror, whom none successfully 
Withstood, the Lion of Judah and of Israel. 
His prudence and sagacity in war 
And peace were ever manifest ; along 
With simple trust in God, childlike, devout 
Dependence on Divine and Spirit help. 
Seldom such qualities combine in one : 
But combined nothing surer than success. 
A sterling character and marvellous 
David was, combining opposite traits 
In harmony, — with passion, tenderness ; 
With fierceness, generosity enthroned 
In sweet munificence within his breast ; 
A soldier and statesman equally great ; 
His hands red with blood, yet a shepherd king, 
Whose wanderings and wars and sufferings 



Man Redeemed. 277 

Better instruct our race than the after reign, 

Magnificent, of Solomon, the son ; 

Often betrayed he fell into gross sin, 

But just as quickly heaven's throne in tears 

He sought, and always fought for mastery 

O'er all that was impure in human hearts. 

He illustrates in truth the poverty 

Of poor, fallen human nature's best powers 

To overcome the tendency of all 

And each to sin, and its impotency 

To reinstate itself in holiness. 

Thus more than any man before his time 
He was a type and prophecy of Jesus 
Of Nazareth, and antedated Him 
One era, the ancestor of Messiah. 
And David was His likeness, portraiture 
As near as sinful human nature can 
Portray the Lord, Divine, a Sufferer ! 
Was prophet, priest and king, and shepherd dearly 
Beloved ; who left his native hills and home 
Upon the call of heaven, his peaceful life 
Abandoning, foregoing happiness, 



278 Man Redeemed. 

To pastorate God's flock with jealous care. 
He raised a throne illustrious throughout 
The earth, a legacy of zeal and love 
To Solomon, his youngest son, who ate 
The fruits, enjoyed the luxury, his father 
David had purchased dearly with groans, tears 
And blood throughout his most eventful life. 

Hence Solomon's reign becomes typical 
Of what our Lord has purchased for the world, 
Redeemed and saved by tears and blood divine : 
But no more fully typifies this truth 
Than sinful David does the Lord of glory. 
The after glory follows the Messiah 
As Solomon was type ideally 
Of glory heaven will reveal to saints 
When each a daughter, decked in Heaven's jewels 
And crowned with diadems, will sit upon thrones 
In heaven's New Jerusalem, redeemed ! 

The House of God, the church in purity, 
Alone of earth is man's asylum tranquil, 
A refuge from the tempests, wrecks and deaths 



Man Redeemed. 279 

In earth ! We drop our sandals at the door — 

The place is holy — reverently bow 

The head uncovered in the sacred shrine. 

Though not a burning mount with thunders fierce, 

But peaceful, still as conscience cleansed of guilt, 

Yet fervent reverence the worshippers 

Becomes, for holy is the Lord presiding, 

Above the heavens venerable, Majestic ! 

Earth trains, but perfects neither saint elect 

Nor church : hence neither finds a home on earth — 

But do in fields elysian in the heavens ! 

The seen and natural reveal to earth 

And man a spiritual house, unseen 

Save by the spirit power inhering in 

The soul, revealed as vast and glorious, 

A spiritual universe to come, 

Imperishable, — happiness without 

Alloy, advanced above the present state 

Beyond compare, to reign forever then, — 

Of which the present church is emblematic, 

Or like the husk enfolding grain with care 

Till ready for the harvest, reaped by angels. 



280 Man Redeemed. 

The chief foundation-stone in Zion laid, 

Precious, elect is Christ the world's great King ; 

After whose image every stone is fashioned ; 

Whose virtue energizes and pervades 

The whole, by Spirit Power adorned for heaven. 

The reign of Solomon best typifies 

The church millennial, known through prophecy, 

When Zion's daughters will awake the harp 

And lyre to sing the glory of the Lamb 

With melody more marvellous than earth 

Has ever known ; when sons redeemed by blood 

And agony which Calvary reveal, 

Will reign as prophets, priests and kings in earth, 

Magnificent, excelling Solomon. 

Thus man with measured tread and steadily 
Is ever nearing blissful homes beyond 
The skies. Though pilgrim here and hard the road 
Each hour adorns and beautifies the soul 
For heavenly courts, not far removed, ecstatic. 
The darkness, sorrow, pain and deaths of earth 
In contrast render heaven sweeter far 
And beautiful beyond what angels know. 



Man Redeemed. 281 

Born to the purple, Solomon was cradled 
In luxuries and had a peaceful reign. 
Of noble presence, he adorned a throne 
And held the sceptre gracefully, and reigned 
With fascination, idolized by nations. 
The fairest son of earth maternal, — face 
Ruddy, and locks dark mixed with golden threads, 
With eyes like dove's, and countenance as bright 
As Lebanon and excellent as cedars, 
The chief among ten thousand, perfectly 
And altogether lovely— cherished prince 
Adored and madly loved by tender queens ; 
Who won the daughters of Jerusalem 
And every heart throughout his royal realm. 
Above this beauty physical were charms 
Of spirit gifts and power so marvellous, 
The casket of the soul, the body's charms 
Were lost to view, eclipsed by brilliancy 
Of intellectual force ; of wisdom far 
Reaching, minute and accurate, and skilled 
To range the universe or humble realms 
Where plants and beasts teach men of Spirit Power ; 



282 Man Redeemed. 

Of ready sympathies with sufferers — , 

A noble spirit quality in princes ; 

Of genial humor, playful, giving life 

And charm to every place his presence filled — 

Society with him a luxury 

Rarely vouchsafed to men in gloomy earth ! ■ 

Thus dawned the splendid reign of Solomon. 

The world as far as known contributed 
Its choicest treasures to Jerusalem 
Which then became a vast emporium 
For riches, — gold of Ophir so lavished, 
That servants in the court of Solomon 
Glittered therewith in coats of mail and shields, 
Their hair too powdered daily with its dust ; 
And silver like the stones that paved the streets ; 
Cedars from Lebanon like sycamore 
Trees in the vales ; and Tyrian purple lavished 
Upon princes of the imperial household. 
Truly the golden reign of Solomon 
In grandeur was colossal, ravishing, 
And great and rich in all earth's luxuries. 
His vessels navigated every sea, 



Man Redeemed. 283 

Exacting contributions from all lands 

To render him earth's most glorious prince : 

Of Ophir gold, of Sheba precious stones, 

Spices and perfumes from Arabia, 

While India and Ceylon furnished trees 

And flow'ring plants, both beautiful and rare, 

And animals, and birds of plumage rich 

For parks and sylvan vales, which Solomon 

Planted and nursed for his luxurious 

Abandonment feo all the sweets of love 

With female beauties, glittering about 

His steps whichever way he turned, with grace 

And blandishments, each one displaying charms 

Possessed by each, and jealous of his smile. 

His palaces excelled whate'er in earth 

Had been effected by the hand of man 

Before or since his time : upon Lebanon, 

High eminent for prospect, cool retreat, 

And in Jerusalem with ivory 

And cedar, and adorned with silver, gold 

And gems, he built without regard to cost 

And lavishly his habitations, marvels 



284 Man Redeemed. 

Of beauty, grandeur, elegance and taste. 

A Paradise to rival ancient Eden 

He planted too at Etham with rare trees 

And tropic fruits and flowers and fragrant herbs 

Of varied scent, and gathered there both male 

And female singers, rendering the air 

So redolent with sweets that heaven seemed 

To have resumed her reign once more in earth ! 

His glorious sovereignty was world renowned. 
Fair Queen of Sheba in the far-off south 
Moved by his fame for wisdom, love and wealth, 
Journeyed in state befitting queens, with trains 
Of camels bearing gold and spice and gems, 
To Palestine to see and hear the prince. 
The calendar contained no brighter day 
For Solomon than that when Sheba's Queen 
Arrived and was received in grand triumph 
By all Jerusalem and Palestine. 
She seated at his side upon his throne 
Of ivory and gold, arrayed before 
Her was the splendor of his court and state, 
His wealth and lavish prodigality 



Man Redeemed. 285 

Upon his servants, messengers and maids — 
Each one a noble prince or princess seemed : 
And spake to her of nature animate, 
Inanimate, of life and character : 
Communed with her upon the universe, 
The world, their glories and their mysteries : 
And let us hope, upon redeeming grace. 
Seeing and hearing all the Queen's heart sank 
In admiration, and beneath the splendor, 
The wisdom and the beauty of the prince, 
Confessing that the half had not been told 
Her by her courtiers in her princely halls ; 
That servants at the feet of Solomon, 
Seeing his face, receiving from his lips 
Wisdom distilled like early morning dew, 
Were happier, more blessed, than reigning kings. 

How different the Son of God esteemed 
All earthly wisdom and this kingly pomp, 
Who in the after era judged it less 
And not to be compared in beauty, grace 
Or sweetness with the lily of the field, 
Modest and unpretending in its worth, 



286 Man Redeemed. 

Hidden, but none the less to be esteemed — 
Indeed the more if shrinking from display. 

When Solomon began his reign he seemed 
Devout and zealous for the God of Israel ; 
And built a Temple seemingly a gift 
Of heaven to Jerusalem, — so grand 
And beautiful that mortal sense confused 
Was dumb and blind beneath its dazzling wealth. 
He prayed for wisdom, not for holiness 
Also ; alas ! that simply he might rule. 
Hence passion for the glory and renown 
Of earth absorbed his noble powers and quenched 
The better qualities which marked his youth, 
And doubtless grieved the Spirit Power, Supreme, 
Selfish became, conceited, arrogant 
And proud — terrible self idolatry ! 
The golden era then began to wane, 
And unresisting Solomon allowed 
His heathen wives to build and sacrifice 
In temples dedicated to their gods, 
And introduce in Israel heathen rites. 

Known evils once allowed ne'er of themselves 



Man Redeemed. 287 

Die out, or loose their hold in earth or hell, 
But grow, accelerated and increased 
In power and virulence by length of years, 
Unless subdued by good and faithful men, 
Or if the church lack grace, by Spirit Power. 

The Moloch worship introduced became 
In after years an awful blight to Israel. 
Young men and helpless babes were sacrificed 
With maidens to the Cretan Monster, vile 
E'en as an image with bull's head and horns 
And body like the human ; Israelites 
E'en, prompted by their love of gain and fear 
Of reigning powers and kings — a potent force 
Working death in all times — engaged in rites 
Both cruel and atrocious, causing sons 
And daughters to deliver up themselves 
To death, to pass through fire, — and shed the blood 
Of innocents — were deaf to pleading babes, 
To piteous hands and cries in vain addressed 
To adamantine hearts, — who were parents once, — 
But now bereft of feeling rendered fiends ! 



288 Man Redeemed. 

Depraved, none know themselves, the human heart, 

How foul and venomous it may become, 

How despicable, wicked, — an abyss 

Whose reigning passions, like a liquid fire, 

May burn and rage till every good impulse 

And noble sentiment of innocence 

And purity, so sweet in childhood days, 

Will be consumed and vanish like the mist, — 

For evil stronger — impotent for good, — 

An angel babyhood which ravishes 

A mother's heart because so passing sweet, 

Matured into Satanic lineaments ! 

None realize what crimes they'll cheerfully 

Perpetrate, lest restrained and helped of heaven ; 

What monsters they'll become, mature in guilt ; 

Make evil angels weep or skulk away . 

In solitudes, repenting of their work ! 

Upon a grander scale a church corrupt, 
Allied to flesh and world the following 
Era — apostates foul of hell let loose — 
Practised the most refined barbarities ; 



Man Redeemed. 289 

And slaughtered hecatombs of human saints ; 
And plotted 'gainst a remnant pure in heart, 
Whose blood- beneath God's altar ever cries 
For judgment yet reserved for cruel men, 
Now chained in hell, reserved for awful fate ! 

And so may any church at any time 
Become corrupt, then cruel, e'en the church 
Called Protestant, if evils are allowed 
To grow, and ministers fear to rebuke, 
Or study ease and popularity. — 
And churches estimate their .worth thereby, 
Inquiring not as to fidelity ! 

Earth is a battle-field where right will win, 

Though saints lose heart when God Himself seems hid, 

When enemies abound, when victory 

Seems theirs, when vile and godless men bear rule. 

That God's beyond the reason's height, beyond 

Our thoughts and fears, too often we forget. 

But faith in God ne'er loses heart, nor hope 

Nor courage,— e'en in darkest hours will strike 

For victory, the issue leave to God, 

And dare to side with what is pure or right, — 
13 



290 Man Redeemed. 

Which scorns the praise of men, the world, its wealt. 
And luxury, if Jesus leads the way ! 
Hence back into the field of strife we'll go, — 
With God, for God, to bravely do our part, 
Nor falter in the ranks, where saints may fall — 
They lose but earth and win a royal crown ! 
For this is God's command to every saint. 
A calm obedience is sweeter far, 
And loyalty more dear than sacrifice : 
For sacrifice may measured be, but love 
Is measureless and hungers more when fed, 
And feeding, more enjoys the heavenly feast. 
When evils reign and wrathful men afflict, 
Oh ! hear the music voice that ne'er deceives, 
And see the tender eyes all moist with love — 
A beacon light upon a stormy sea 
To guide us safely home to Heaven and bliss. 
'Tis Jesus, tender Shepherd, hunting lost 
And silly ones, who've scattered from the fold 
Because of wolves which render hideous 
The night with howls — and feared though they're 
afar ! 



Man Redeemed. 291 

The world is bright and fair and beautiful, 
The woods, the flowers, the bubbling rivulets, — 
But man is treacherous and cruel, false 
And vile, and renders dangerous our way, 
Entangles us in snares, afflicts and gloats 
O'er miseries produced by hellish arts ! 
Ah ! then a voice from Heaven, as zephyrs soft, 
Enchants our ears, fresh courage gives, a light 
Imparts like pearly morning's struggling rays 
Which dawns upon eternal, heavenly day ! 
Our tears are dried, our fears give place to hope, 
Our lamentations, cries and wails to smiles ! 
Now light grows brighter, flashing from the Throne, 
And fears of hell, and minions coursing earth 
And sea therefrom, take flight like shades of night 
Before the flaming coursers of the Sun ! 
Divinely sweet and glad, the heart then rests 
In God and God in it, nor fears nor sees, 
Oblivious, the wraths of earth or hell ! 

Thus spirit power in cruel persecutions 
Is seen, and dark, or lurid red with blood, — 
In moans of agony outdoing earth's 



292 . Man Redeemed. 

Liquid fires or the Ocean's fiercest storms : 
In contrast light appears in power where faith 
Abides and lovingly reclines in God ! 

Not solely Moloch's cruel rites of worship 
Did Solomon permit and foist upon Israel : 
For also then commenced the worship lewd 
And shameful, too abhorrent for detail, 
Of Ashtareth, the Hieropolis 
Goddess of Syria — most popular,— 
For human nature fallen loves whate'er 
In church or world is most intensely human, 
Though shocking low, lewd, debased and foul. 
Legend tells us the goddess Ashtareth 
For ten years in Tyre lived a prostitute. 
Hence maidens beautiful and young in years, 
And women to her in unchastity 
Consecrated themselves as acts of worship, 
In temples too and built to her for lust, 
Religion, so called, used to cloak their crimes. 
Such were the rites and others sacred called — 
Rendered to devils, which great Solomon 



Man Redeemed. 293 

Allowed his wives from foreign lands to graft 
Upon Israel's worship pure, ordained of heaven. 
A dreadful warning, loud and easily learned, 
Against whate'er corrupts to be allowed, 
Though seemingly a trifle, in the church. 
'Tis here that Satan and his sons begin 
Attack and quench the light in human hearts. 
Thus great was Solomon's fall from the heights 
Of glory, ne'er attained by sinful man 
Before, into idolatry and depths 
Of sin involving nations in his guilt ! 
And thus he proved, as David had before, 
Humanity and sinful frailty. 

'Tis right the church should rule in earth by love, 
Rebuke with tenderness, a haughty throne 
Assail, defend the poor and suffering, — 
As David seized a lamb from cruel jaws. 
For thus her moral light illumes the heart, 
And glorious her reign, excelling kings, 
Whose splendor pales, is insignificant 
Compared with hers which sheds a mellow light. 



294 Man Redeemed. 

If true to missionate our fallen race 

And cheer with light the hovels of the poor — 

Which never fails in rich returns for labor, 

We'll then upon her face prismatic hues 

Of holy light discern, and she'll fulfil 

Her office, first in order : — ne'er to render 

Herself a thing to be despised by man. 

Apostatized she is apostemate ! 

If arrogant, inflated, self-content 

The curtain falls, and gloom and night hang o'er 

Her future, totally her lineaments, 

So fair in light, concealing from the world: 

Tis then dense shades assume the place of light ! 

As man was made by special act of heaven, 
By Spirit Power, the sixth creative day, 
So Christ assumed our flesh and bone the sixth 
Era of the redemptive period, 

Which now we've reached in progress of the theme. 
At evening's hour, God said, Let there be light, 
As in the eras past when each began ! 
Developments and then decadences 



Man Redeemed. 295 

Are seen in eras of the period 

As in creative days. If each were called 

A day, no damage done. Our era ends 

When churches fall, when Satan rules in hearts 

Professing love to God and in the church, 

As in each era of the past as seen, 

Like Israel lapsed into idolatry. 

Our era with the Saviour of our race 
Began, who layed aside His robes of glory, 
For so decreed, and took upon Himself 
The form of man to suffer in his stead. 
In plants and flowers and all material things 
The sun's light is reflected, else our eyes 
Would fail their office in the dazzling rays : 
So in the Son, God's image glorious, 
The true Jedid-jah, well beloved of God, 
Of melting, overpow'ring lustre shines. 
Indeed an ocean of light floods all space, 
And beauty new, reflected from the throne 
Of God, when thus is lifted the dark veil 
From Spirit Power, majestic, filling earth 
And heaven and the universe entire ! 



296 Man Redeemed. 

In Bethlehem, incarnate Deity- 
Was born a babe divinely sweet and fair, — 
Whose name is precious, and refreshing more 
The soul in every age than aught of earth. 
The Saviour's advent God's eternal love 
Displayed, — a light to beam within the soul. 
Of purity immaculate Himself, 
Yet He our sins assumed and bore their curse. 
The sacrifice of victims, unresolved 
Through ages, reached its goal, resolved in Him 
The victim, slain for sin, though Heaven's Son, 
The Lamb of Calvary while earth gave signs 
Of woe in terror and in sympathy, — 
While men, for whom the sacrifice was made, 
Were instruments or else insensible. 
Unparalleled, unspeakable display 
Of love divine and power to vanquish hell ! 
Christ was the true Shelomoh, prince of peace, 
A prophet, priest and king ; in spirit filling 
Immensity ; as Saviour of the world 
Assumed humanity and suffered death ! 

He bridged the mighty gulf and paved the way 



Man Redeemed. 297 

Which men e'er since in long procession trace 

To the sublime and heavenly abode. 

Our fathers dear and friends have trod the path 

Which we, when death shall come, shall also tread. 

Escorted by the angels we'll from earth 

Hasten our steps above to higher birth — 

Our spirit-form ethereal like the sky, 

For all that's earthy shall the earth absorb. 

The way's illumed through all the trackless gloom 

By yonder sphere of bliss whose golden light 

Bathes brightly all the way from earth to Heaven. 

The beaming Fountain is the Throne of God 

Whence springs the light to guide through sorrow's dark 

And thorny road to pleasure's endless day. 

Oh ! then with heavenly glory crowned we'll see, 

Embrace and weep the tears of glad delight 

Upon the bosoms pure, once loved below, 

Of parents, wife or children gone before — 

But thrilled by joy and love beyond degree 

By seeing Jesus crowned, once crucified ! 

Malignant spirit burst with violence 

In storms of deadly wrath against His person. 
13* 



298 Man Redeemed. 

But when with lamb-like patience Christ endured 

And bore malignancy, hell ne'er before 

So felt its impotency. Love subdues, 

Where hate and opposition stir the fires 

Of evil, gratifies the powers of earth 

And hell,— and sinful man's alike inclined. 

This era in millennium attains 
Its acme ; its decadence in the reign 
Of Satan, when unbound he'll range the earth, 
Be given liberty to tempt the race 
As ne'er before. But only when the church 
Becomes corrupt and falls, submiss to him-, 
Guilty of sins exceeding other eras, 
Will earth be burned and utterly consumed, 
As in Lot's time were Sodom and Gomorrah, — 
A prophecy of what's reserved for earth ! 

Each thoughtfu. pilgrim through this vale of light 
And shade in earth, from infancy to death, 
Is often perplexed in seeing multitudes 
Without apparent thought of God or Heaven 
Or Hell, of blood and bone to us akin, 



Man Redeemed. 299 

And who in earth are prosperous, have wealth 
And luxury and ease and elegance ; 
Some revelling in sins and wickedness 
Without restraint or punishment divine, 
Shocking a spirit keen and delicate ! 
While lovely is the world, yet sin prevails, 
And ills and trials darken many a home ! 
Apparent only is the mystery. 
Wherever sin prevails the heart is dark, 
Because the Spirit light Divine's withheld : 
Wherever Zion's graces meekly reign 
There's light and joy and peace akin to Heaven, — 
As 'twas in Egypt night, while Israel sang 
Sweet songs of praise beneath the shining sun. 
Where God abides, makes manifest His power 
In love there's light that gladdens every heart ; 
Where He withholds His loving Self, the realms 
Are dark, and men are suffered to disport 
Themselves and revel in the sinks of vile 
Impurities, and stain their hands with blood, 
Inaugurate the reign of Hell at will — 
Without the living- God without restraint ! 



300 Man Redeenied. 

For men, inclined to sin become as beasts — 
And worse, without the Spirit Power, Supreme, 
To lovingly restrain and guide the soul, 
Co-act and bless and dwell therein, — in type 
Prefigured by the Blessed Trinity ! 
In union with the Living God there's life, — 
Especially to souls so heavenly blessed. 
Communities where such abide have peace : — 
And men who're there and covetous of gain 
Are helped, not hindered to amass their wealth, 
And here enjoy unconsciously the light 
And gifts and peace of Heaven — their only Heaven! 
Alone ! dissevered, — souls adrift and left 
To act their own perverted thoughts and wills, 
Like wand'ring stars and comets glow with light 
Baneful, portend and bring a reign of blood, 
Confusion, fear and death — where God is not ! — 
So far as known, to manifest His grace ! 
Eternity is short by half for praise, — 
Infinity is short by half for place 
And altar for the worship due our God 
If union does subsist betwixt us both, — 



Man Redeemed. 301 

And He's our Guide through all this wilderness, — 
Our Dove who hovers o'er our heads to bless, — 
Our Father waiting in the heavenly courts, 
Expectant upon our steps, and waiting long, 
As though impatient to embrace His own — 
Enfold us in His cloud of light and grace, 
As Moses was upon Sinai's holy mount, 
To cause to glow with beauty all divine 
Our every feature of the soul and face 
And body spiritual, of ether pure ; 
And give beatitudes, to those akin 
Enjoyed by Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ! 

The seventh era was revealed to John, 
A Sabbath rest, when earth and heaven, new 
And saved from fire, will glorious appear, — 
Our Sabbath of the period a type, 
Recurring every week and teaching man, 
That rest, a holy, blissful rest is near ; 
When darkness, sorrow, pain and sin are o'er ; 
When all the shades, obscuring moral light 
And quenching joy, shall never more appear ! 



302 Man Redeemed. 

Then shall the church in glory shine, complete, 

Symmetrical before a universe, 

A star alone in ether, beauteous, 

Upon nothing hung, twinkling in amber light, 

The most adored of all the hosts of heaven. 

Each son and daughter perfect, glorious, 

Emitting heavenly light, ethereal, 

Among whom and where God shall dwell and reign 

More manifest in beauty and in power 

Than earth or stars or Heaven hath yet revealed ! 

Within the barren isle of Patmos lone, 
The aged prophet sat disconsolate; 
No sound of kindred voice to lull his soul, 
Harassed and suft'ring wrongs for witnessing 
For Jesus and the truth ; all still save winds 
From the ^Egean Sea which breathed their soothing 

notes 
Within his soul. There suddenly, while wrapt 
In thought and mourning o'er earth's wickedness, 
The last seer given to the world saw gates 
Celestial open wide, and then appear 
Visions so glorious, that, o'erpowered 



Man Redeemed. 303 



By heaven's splendor, he became as dead ! 

The New Jerusalem, the Holy City 

Adorned, his spirit saw : whose splendid light 

Was crystal clear like jasper stone ; whose walls 

Were great and high, and placed at each pearl gate 

An angel guard ; and the foundation walls 

Garnished compact with precious stones and pearls ; 

The streets like glass transparent, paved with gold. 

And voices, with ten thousand harps, were heard 

Commingling harmony with shouts of praise. 

The glory of the Lamb they sang, His works 

Marvellous and His judgments manifest. 

One multitudinous voice like the roar 

Of thunder or of waters many, sang 

With love the praise of God, omnipotent. 

The symphony of voice and harp, the praise 

Of Heaven, no tongue can speak. The prophet mute, 

Awe-stricken, paralyzed, was dumb with fear ! 

The saints redeemed he saw in shining ranks 

By myriads ; clothed in linen white ; washed clean • 

By blood divine, saved from pollution's stain 

By Gilead's balm, — -who, joined by seraphs bright, 



304 Man Redeemed. 

Sang too the praise and glory of the Lamb 
Slain — song more rapturous than that which angels 
Gave when earth first appeared among the stars. 
There from beneath the throne he saw a river 
Issue like crystal clear, which o'er rich beds 
Of amber, luminous stones, gems and gold 
Flowed through this Paradise of God. The meads 
On either side with roses damasked, tinged 
Like Sharon's and with many a varied shade ; 
And lilies, which there flourished blushing meek, 
Immortal ; there the palm, the cedar grander 
Far than on Lebanon's mount, and the olive, 
More beautiful all than in Eden grew. 
The citron there full-grown with foliage green, 
On whose full boughs hung golden luscious fruit 
Of pleasant taste, reviving sight and smell. 
There grew the tree of life on either side 
The river, transplanted from Eden's plains, 
Whose fruit the blessed may eat — the angels' food — 
And drink of the waters pure. Beneath this shade 
Refreshing, o'er the diamond sands and paths 
Of burnished gold, the blessed redeemed may walk, 



Man Redeemed. 305 

Accompanied by their Lord, whose countenance beams 
With love intense upon His precious flock 
Which gather at His feet to hear His words, — 
As erst in Galilee when journeying 
To bear the Cross and suffer Calvary ! 

The Saints how beautiful they are, how bright 
In bliss their glories shine : but brighter far 
In beauty is the Lord ! compared their light 
Is dim and paled, or totally eclipsed ! 
No marvel saints have died of love for Him ; 
Have borne imprisonment and torture, fire 
And sword for Him ; His beauty broken hearts 
When once He's been seen all aglow with light ! 
Pure saints how happy in their love of God, 
Their hearts kindled into a brilliant flame — 
Sweet unction — by his excellence alone, 
When seen or felt — loved for His own dear Self ! 

May we indulge the happy thought, that God 
Permitted Satan man to tempt and sin 
To enter Eden that He might effect 







o6 Man Redeemed. 



A greater good, subdue the Powers of darkness, 

Show Spirit Glory in a manner new 

To heaven, and save and raise our fallen race 

To eminence ; that man upon a throne 

Might sit, be crowned with Heaven's diadems — 

Above the angels, who ere man was born 

Were made and entered Heaven ; sublimer good, 

Both manifold and wondrous in extent, 

In human nature honored, dignified, 

And now invested with divinity ! 

Thus man in truth redeemed is upon a throne, 

With emerald light encircled nighest heaven's 

Great King ! The mystery of creature sin 

Through Spirit Power evolves thus partially 

And pleasantly, promoting thought or love 

To God and Heaven and every creature made. 

For sin is incidental to a good 

Through love and mercy ; God revealed in light 

Which ne'er before beamed from beneath the veil ! 

Thus Job was tempted by permit of Heaven, 

Covered with boils by Satan's agency, 

His property destroyed and children slain : 



Man Redeemed. 307 

And unadvisedly he spake at times ; — 
But ultimately was exalted higher, 
Made richer, happier, more prosperous 
And blessed of God above his former state, 
To such degree, the former was almost 
Forgotten and eclipsed by heaven's bounty. 

In light and shade is Spirit Power revealed : 
'Gainst darkest clouds the purest light is seen : 
Without the shade the light is less discerned. 
Yet 'tis the province of the meanest souls 
To struggle always for the purest light ; 
To be within the glow of light Divine ; 
To think and do naught bringing shade and night 
Upon, within the soul — remorse begun ! 

Ne'er will eternal years divinity 
Exhaust, — for there's always some new display 
Of God's deep, fathomless immensity, 
Of spirit pure and infinite, above, 
And' yet pervading all and every thing ! 
The possibilities of Spirit Power 
Are only faintly seen below the skies 



308 Man Redeemed. 

By what already perfect has been done : 

By marvels, beautiful and gorgeous, like 

The wings of butterflies from crawling worms. 

For Spirit Infinite the elements 

Willed into Being, and the chaos spoke 

Into light, beauty, wealth material 

So marvellous throughout the universe, 

And beauteous in plants and beasts and birds — 

Too multiform, complex for mind to grasp, 

And varied infinitely — ravishing 

With joy the heart of spirit lovable! 

He too our souls, felicitous can cause 

To sparkle in variety and scope 

Endless and marvellous. By what He's done 

A prophecy of what is yet to come, 

For earth material and spirit life ! 

Hark ! songs angelic swell o'er earth and sea : 
How sweet, oh, blessed sweet ! the strains that tell 
Of life anew, and sin and sorrow o'er, 
Of shadows fled, of death and night all past ! 
Oh, how their echoes sweetly ring from crag 



Man Redeemed. 309 

And mountain top, o'er hills and through earth's vales : 

For rest has come at length, — the day has dawned, 

The beauteous day which prophecy foretells, — 

In welcome home at last at journey's end 

Upon the breast of life's untroubled sea. 

Sweet songs — but from above a chorus rings 

From angel lips aglow with bliss and love, 

Where multitudes are hovering o'er and near 

Man blessed, redeemed, and Paradise restored ! 

Transporting glimpse of home, the heritage 
Of angels and of man redeemed, who'll be 
Whate'er they think and know and feel and hope ; 
With power commensurate with will, where Christ 
Bears rule and holds the keys of life or death. 
So erst His blessed feet to calm repose 
Thrilled stormy Galilee's tempestuous sea, 
While wond'ririg marines beheld themselves 
Transported to the shore without the aid 
Of hands, at once as through the air — all space 
Annulled — all fears allayed and hopes fulfilled. 

The home beyond, the soft blue shore across 
The stream, the narrow stream dividing death 



3io Man Redeemed. 

And life, how near at hand it often seems, 

Within our vision, nay, beneath our feet, 

While wistful hearts look o'er and long for rest, 

Release from pain that dims the sight for earth ! 

When dreary, dull and dark our present home. 

Often then sunbeams aslant to earth seem ways 

Inviting, shining paths which lead to Thee — 

Oh, Heaven ! oh, fragrant shore with flowers of bliss, 

Into, the golden light beyond the sea ! 

Oh, sweetest thought ! within that home to lean 

Upon the breast of Jesus evermore ! 

Alone ! within some unfamiliar place, 

And strangers lost, without the right to walk 

The royal realms, and trembling pale with fear 

We'd be without the blessed Jesus there, 

To wait and watch and welcome us within ; 

And teach us how to lisp in angel tongues ; 

Endure, enjoy the sights ne'er seen before, 

The fragrance heavenly, taintless pure and sweet ; 

To bask in angel loves forevermore ! 

Ah, then ! far off, below will lie the sea, 
The earth a star, a gloomy star appear, 



Man Redeemed. 311 

Veiled as in shades, in shadows dimly seen, — 
While in the splendors of the beams of Heaven 
We'll walk, or upon the orbed and golden clouds 
Without, above the City's jewelled shrines, 
Look out upon a universe beyond ! 

My God i is this the exchange for sickness, pain 
And death, anxiety and earth and woe ? 
O chariot ! to bear us into realms 
Of bliss, thy wheels delay their coming long, 
While notes astray from Heaven reach us here, 
And beams from Zion's gates ajar are seen ! 
And all unmerited, a gift of grace, — 
The price of blood Divine, of Calvary ! 



FINIS. 



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